<7 


University  Library 
University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


'. 

Che  Indian  Captive, 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE 


A   NARRATIVE 


OF    THE 


Adventures  and  Sufferings 


MATTHEW  BRAYTON 


IN    HIS 


THIRTY-FOUR  YEARS  OF  CAPTIVITY 


AMONG    THE 


INDIANS  OF  NORTH-WESTERN   AMERICA 


FOSTORIA,  OHIO. 

THE  GRAY  PRINTING  COMPANY, 

1896. 


COPYRIGHT  APPLIED  FOR 


PREFACE  » 


The  following  brief  narrative  of  the  unparalleled  ad 
ventures  ot  MATTHEW  BRAYTON  is  compiled  for  the  satis 
faction  of  those  who  wished  to  preserve  a  memorial  of  his 
romantic  history. 

Extraordinary  as  the  incidents  may  appear,  there  is 
abundant  proof  of  their  entire  truth.  Living  witnesses 
bear  testimony  to  the  circumstances  of  the  mysterious  loss 
of  the  hero,  and  his  identity  is  established  by  incontro 
vertible  proofs.  Numerous  circumstances  also  confirm 
the  account  given  by  him  of  his  adventures  during  the 
thirty-four  years  spent  among  the  Indians. 


a 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  LOST  CHILD. 

That  portion  of  North-western  Ohio,  situated  to  the 
South-east  of  the  Black  Swamp,  was  but  sparsely  settled 
at  the- close  of  the  first  quarter  of  the  present  century.  The 
hardy  pioneers  who  had  left  their  New  England  homes  to 
open  up  the  Western  wilds,  here  and  there  built  their 
modest  dwellings  and  tilled  the  few  acres  won  from  the 
dense  forest  and  luxuriant  prairie.  The  dusky  aborigines, 
driven  from  all  other  parts  of  Ohio,  clung  tenaciously  to 
this  comparatively  neglected  spot,  and  the  smoke  from  the 
log  hut  of  the  settler  rose  within  sight  of  the  Indian  wig 
wam.  The  two  races  were  at  peace  with  each  other,  for 
neither  cared  to  convert  a  passive  neighbor  into  an  active 
enemy.  The  Indians  had  realized  their  inability  to  drive 
back  the  constantly  advancing  wave  of  civilization,  and  the 
white  settlers  had  no  desire  to  provoke  the  savage  retalia 
tions  of  their  dusky  neighbors  unless  compelled  by  neces 
sity  to  do  so. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  the  junction  between  the  San- 
dusky  and  Tymochte  rivers,  in  Wyandot  county,  a  remnant 


6  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

of  the  once  powerful  Wyandot  tribe  still  remained.  One 
of  their  villages  was  at  Upper  Sandusky,  and  another  at 
Springville,  in  Seneca  county.  A  small  band  of  Senecas 
were  also  located  in  the  neighborhood,  and  some  scattered 
Ottawas  had  their  wigwams  on  Blanchard's  Fork,  a  few 
miles  to  the  west  of  the  Wyandot  settlements.  An  Indian 
trail  led  from  Upper  Sandusky  to  Springville,  and  thence, 
through  the  Black  Swamp,  to  Perrysburg.  At  the  latter 
place  it  crossed  the  Maumee,  and  reached  the  shore  of  the 
Detroit  river  opposite  Maiden,  in  Canada.  Some  of  the 
Indians  living  in  the  North-west  of  Ohio  had  sided  with 
the  British  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  these  annually  crossed 
over  to  Maiden  to  receive  their  presents  of  guns,  ammuni 
tion  and  blankets.  The  Canadian  Indians  sometimes 
visited  their  dusky  brethren  in  Ohio,  and  thus  the  trail 
was  frequently  traversed. 

Among  the  settlers  who  had  located  themselves  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  Wyandot  villages  was  Elijah  Brayton, 
a  thrifty  farmer  from  New  England,  who  had  estab 
lished  himself  near  the  Tymochte  river  in  what  is  now 
Crawford  township,  Wyandot  county.  In  the  year  1825, 
Mr.  Brayton  was  thirty-nine  years  of  age,  and  his  family 
consisted  of  his  wife  and  their  six  children,  William, 
Harriet,  Lucy,  Matthew,  Mary  and  Peter.  In  that 
year  Mr.  Brayton  was  busy  erecting  a  mill  on  the 
Tymochte,  and  towards  the  fall  of  the  year  he  went  to 
Chillicothe  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  up  the  mill-stones. 
The  journey  at  that  time  was  long  and  tedious,  and  the 
home  affairs  were  entrusted  in  his  absence  to  Mrs.  Brayton 
and  the  eldest  son  William,  then  a  lad  of  sixteen. 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1825,  William   Brayton, 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  7 

with  his  younger  brother  Matthew,  then  nearly  seven  and 
a  half  years  old,  started  out  to  hunt  up  some  stray  cattle. 
They  proceeded  for  two  or  three  miles  in  the  direction  of 
the  spot  where  William  Brayton  at  present  lives,  but 
found  no  traces  of  the  missing  cattle.  Here  they  met  a 
neighbor  named  Hart,  who  was  also  looking  for  stray 
cattle.  Matthew  had  become  tired,  and  declared  his  ina 
bility  to  proceed  any  farther.  After  a  short  consultation 
it  was  agreed  that  William  Brayton  and  Hart  should 
proceed  in  search  of  the  cattle,  and  that  Matthew  should 
take  the  path  which  led  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Baker,  about 
sixty  rods  distant,  where  he  could  amuse  himself  with  his 
young  playmates  until  the  return  of  William.  The  two 
set  out  on  their  cattle  hunting  expedition,  leaving  little 
Matthew  to  pursue  his  way  along  the  narrow  and  ill- 
defined  path. 

At  the  close  of  the  day's  search,  William  Brayton 
called  at  Mr.  Baker's  house  for  his  little  brother.  To  his 
astonishment  he  learned  that  Matthew  had  not  been  seen 
by  any  of  the  family.  He  then  turned  his  steps  home 
ward,  thinking  that  Matthew  had  changed  his  mind  and 
gone  home,  but  on  arriving  there  no  tidings  of  the  missing 
Boy  met  him.  The  alarm  and  apprehension  that  filled  the 
breast  of  the  mother  may  be  conceived.  A  thousand 
fearful  thoughts  flitted  through  her  mind  in  rapid  suc 
cession.  But  no  time  was  lost  in  useless  grieving.  The 
men  and  women  who  braved  the  dangers  of  frontier  life 
were  quick  to  think  and  prompt  to  act.  A  little  party 
turned  out  at  once  to  search  for  the  missing  boy  and 
restore  him,  if  possible,  to  the  anxious  household.  From 
the  spot  where  the  brothers  had  parted,  the  path  to  Mr. 


8  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

Baker's  house  was  narrowly  searched,  and  the  marks  of 
the  child's  feet  were  clearly  discernible.  At  no  great 
distance  from  the  commencement  of  the  path  it  was 
intersected  by  a  track  made  by  some  logs  recently  drawn 
from  the  woods.  At  this  point  the  traces  showed  that 
Matthew  had  stopped  in  doubt.  They  also  showed  that 
he  had  finally  taken  the  log  track  in  mistake  for  the 
regular  path.  Up  that  track  his  little  footsteps  were  traced 
for  some  distance,  but,  after  awhile,  they  became  fainter, 
and  at  last  disappeared  altogether.  The  woods  on  the 
margin  of  the  track  were  searched  in  vain  for  traces  of  his 
feet. 

The  Indian  trail,  before  spoken  of,  crossed  the  log  track 
near  where  the  footsteps  became  invisible,  and  it  was 
possible  that  he  had  taken  that  trail;  but  his  footmarks— 
if  he  had  really  followed  that  path — had  been  obliterated 
by  the  feet  of  passing  Indians, 

The  party  sorrowfully  returned  from  their  unsuccessful 
search,  and  met  the  anxious  mother  with  heavy  hearts. 
The  night  that  followed  was  one  of  sleepless  agony  to 
Mrs.  Brayton.  To  what  suffering,  or  dreadful  fate  her 
little  boy  might  be  subjected,  it  was  impossible  to  con 
jecture,  but  the  dark  night  and  the  lonely  woods  were 
fraught  with  dangers  to  him  and  with  terror  to  her.  The 
absence  of  the  father  at  this  critical  juncture  on  so  long 
and  distant  a  journey,  aggravated  the  troubles  and  distress 
of  the  time. 

Morning  broke  at  last,  and  never  was  daylight  more 
eagerly  welcomed.  With  the  first  dawn  of  light,  messen 
gers  set  out  in  all  directions  for  assistance,  and  soon  the 
woods  were  astir  with  searching  parties.  The  Indian 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  9 

villages  were  examined,  but  the  Wyandots  professed  entire 
ignorance  as  to  the  movements  of  the  missing  boy,  and 
joined  with  much  zeal  in  the  search.  The  relations 
between  the  Braytons  and  the  Wyandots  had  been  of 
the  most  friendly  character,  and  there  seemed  to  be  no 
possible  reason  for  their  interfering  with  the  peace  of  that 
family.  They  stated,  however,  that  a  party  of  Canadian 
Indians  had  passed  up  the  trail  on  the  day  that  the  boy 
disappeared,  but  could  not  say  whether  he  had  been  carried 
off  by  that  party  or  not.  Another  night  came,  and  again 
the  sorrowful  mother  met  the  dejected  hunters  at  her  door 
and  received  no  consolation.  At  daybreak  the  parties 
again  set  out  to  search  new  tracts  of  country,  but  all  with 
out  avail.  Mr.  Bowe,  still  remembered  in  the  neighborhood, 
acted  as  store  keeper  of  the  party,  and  filled  the  bags  of 
the  searchers  with  meal  as  they  returned  from  their  long 
expeditions.  The  settlers  for  many  miles  around  turned 
out  in  the  exciting  hunt.  Days  lengthened  into  weeks,  and* 
then  it  became  evident  that  all  farther  search  was  useless. 
Every  foot  of  territory  for  miles  around  had  been  examined 
and  no  trace  of  the  lost  child  could  be  discovered.  He 
could  scarcely  have  wandered  off  and  perished  by  starva 
tion  or  wild  beasts,  for  in  either  case  some  trace  would 
have  been  left.  The  only  inference  remaining  was  that  he 
had  been  snatched  up  by  the  party  of  Canadian  Indians 
and  carried  off  into  hopeless  slavery,  if  not  to  meet  a 
horrible  death.  Pursuit  now  was  useless,  had  the  boy 
been  thus  carried  off,  and  the  search  was  reluctantly  aban 
doned. 

Meantime  Mr.  Brayton  had  returned  from  his  journey, 
and  the  sad  affliction  that  had  befallen  his  house,  fell  with 


10  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

crushing  weight  on  his  heart.  For  the  sake  of  his  wife 
and  remaining  children  he  bore  up  nobly,  but  his  distress 
was  keen,  and  every  straw  of  hope  that  floated  by  was 
eagerly  clutched  at.  From  time  to  time  came  vague 
rumors  of  the  boy  having  been  seen  in  different  directions, 
and  the  faintest  hope  of  success  sufficed  to  send  off  the  be 
reaved  father  or  some  trusty  messenger  to  follow  up  the 
clue,  but  always  without  success.  The  last  information 
that  assumed  the  appearance  of  probability  was  received  in 
1829,  from  a  man  who  had  been  traveling  among  the 
Indian  tribes  of  Illinois,  and  who  asserted  that  he  had  seen 
among  the  Indians  of  that  country  a  white  child  whose 
age  and  appearance  corresponded  generally  with  that  of  the 
missing  Matthew  Brayton.  Without  an  hour's  delay 
Mr.  Brayton  wrote  to  General  Cass,  then  Indian  Com 
missioner,  but  his  answer  crushed  out  the  last  remnant  of 
hope.  The  letter  bade  the  anxious  father  to  renounce  all 
hope  based  on  such  a  rumor,  for  there  was  no  such  white 
child  among  the  Indians  of  Illinois.  On  what  authority 
the  General  based  his  assertion,  cannot  be  said,  but  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  in  this  he  was  mistaken. 

The  weary  years  passed  on  but  brought  no  comfort  to 
the  stricken  household.  As  all  strong  impressions  fade  in 
the  course  of  time,  so  faded  away  the  memory  of  the  loss 
from  the  minds  of  men.  But  deep  in  the  hearts  of  the 
parents  remained  the  image  of  the  lost  boy,  and  the  thrill 
ing  scenes  and  emotions  connected  with  the  search  of  him 
recurred  again  and  again  long  after  others  had  nearly  for 
gotten  the  incidents.  The  father  never  forgot  him.  His 
"  lost  Matthew  "  was  ever  in  his  heart,  and  his  name  was 
often  on  his  tongue.  The  oldest  brother,  William,  could 


,  I 

THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  11 

not  forget  him,  for  the  mother's  reproaches,  silent  or 
spoken,  for  his  neglect  in  sending  so  young  a  boy  alone 
on  such  a  path,  sank  deep  into  his  heart.  And  could  the 
mother  that  bore  him  forget  the  missing  lamb  of  the  fold  ? 
The  paling  cheek,  the  wasting  form,  the  decaying  strength 
told  how  deep  the  love,  how  bitter  the  anguish  of  the 
mother  for  her  lost  son.  If  she  were  but  sure  of  his  fate, — 
if  but  one  rag  of  his  clothes,  but  a  particle  of  his  body, 
had  remained  to  assure  her  that  her  darling  had  perished 
by  wild  beasts,  or  been  slain  by  still  wilder  men,  it  would 
at  least  have  given  rest  to  her  weary  heart;  but  this  tortur 
ing  mystery  was  too  great  to  be  borne.  So  the  years 
dragged  slowly  onward,  and  each  succeeding  anniversary 
of  her  boy's  loss  drove  the  sharp  grief  still  deeper  into  her 
heart,  until  sixteen  years  after  the  loss,  she  tired  of  this 
world,  and  the  peaceful  turf  closed  over  her  sorrows.  In 
her  last  thoughts  the  memory  of  the  lost  boy  had  a  place. 
She  died  of  a  broken  heart. 

Matthew  Bray  ton  was  born  April  7th,  1818,  and  was 
therefore  seven  years,  five  months  and  thirteen  days  old  at 
the  time  of  his  loss. 


CHAPTER  II. 

MATTHEW   BRAYTON'S   NARRATIVE. 

Stolen  by  Indians  and  traded  from  Tribe  to  Tribe — Siouxs 
— Sioux  Dog  Dance — Sold  to  the  Snakes — Digger  In 
dians — Fight  with  the  Diggers — Utah — Quarrels  with 
the  Balckfeet— Flat  Heads — Snakes  join  Utahs,  Crees, 
and  Flat  Heads— Join  with  Copper  Heads. 

The  first  seven  or  eight  years  of  my  captivity  among 
the  Indians  were  so  full  of  changes  that  1  cannot  distinctly 
remember  the  events  that  occurred,  and  I  am  compelled  to 
trust  to  the  accounts  given  me  by  the  members  of  the 
various  tribes  who  were  cognizant  of  the  circumstances. 
From  their  statements  I  learn  that  I  was  taken  from  Ohio 
by  a  party  of  Canadian  Indians,  and  by  them  borne  to 
their  village  in  Canada.  The  only  motive  alleged  to  me 
for  the  theft  was  that  the  party  who  stole  me  had  a  differ 
ence  with  some  white  families  in  Ohio,  and  that  I  was 
taken  out  of  revenge.  Among  these  Indians  I  remained 
secreted  for  some  time,  the  tribe  fearing  to  let  me  be  seen 
by  white  men  lest  I  should  be  taken  away. 

From  all  that  I  can  learn,  I  remained  some  six  or  seven 
months  with  this  tribe,  and  was  then  sold  to  a  party  of 
Pottawottomies,  who  took  me  across  to  Michigan.  The 
compensation  obtained  for  me  by  the  Canadian  tribe 
consisted  of  three  and  a  half  gallons  of  whiskey.  With 
my  new  owners  I  remained  about  half  a  year,  when  the 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  13 

Pottawottomies  either  being  afraid  to  keep  me  any  longer, 
or  having  an  unappeasable  thirst  for  whiskey,  traded  me 
off  to  the  Paw-Paws  for  five  and  a  half  gallons  of  fire 
water.  I  could  not  say  how  long  1  remained  in  Michigan 
with  this  tribe,  but  I  was  at  length  transferred  to  the 
Winnebagoes  of  Illinois,  my  value  having  increased  with 
my,  age  to  the  amount  of  seven  and  a  half  gallons  of 
whiskey.  I  did  not  remain  long  with  this  tribe,  but  was 
sold  to  the  Wisconsin  Chippewas  for  nine  and  a  half 
gallons  of  whiskey,  and  with  them  remained  one  year. 
From  the  Chippewas  1  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Siouxs 
in  Minnesota,  and  remained  with  them  nearly  three  years. 
During  my  stay  with  the  Siouxs  1  visited  the  site  of  what 
now  forms  the  city  of  St.  Paul.  In  that  vicinity  there 
were  then  seven  shanties  or  huts,  made  of  poles  and  sticks 
set  up  endways.  Two  or  three  French  and  Dutch,  with 
some  Indians  then  occupied  the  place. 

About  the  ninth  year  of  my  captivity  among  the 
Indians,  the  band  of  Siouxs  to  which  I  belonged  made  an 
expedition  westward.  In  the  course  of  their  hunt  they 
came  on  a  tribe  of  Snake  Indians.  The  Snakes  and  Siouxs 
were  generally  at  war,  but  there  was  peace  between  these 
two  parties.  "  Some  differences  that  had  occurred  between 
the  bands  were  settled  at  the  meeting,  and  the  Siouxs  cele 
brated  the  fact  by  a  great  Dog-Dance. 

This  dance  is  peculiar  to  the  Siouxs,  and  I  never  saw  it 
at  any  other  time.  The  manner  of  doing  it  was  this: — A 
party  of  warriors  squat  around  in  a  circle,  smoking  and 
talking.  A  dog  is  then  taken  and  its  legs  tied,  after  which 
it  is  thrown  into  the  circle  of  warriors.  One  of  the 
"medicine  men"  kills  the  animal  with  his  tomahawk, 


14  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

cuts  open  its  side  and  takes  out  its  liver,  which  is  cut  into 
strips  and  hung  on  a  pole  nearly  the  height  of  a  man. 
The  warriors  spring  to  their  feet  and  commence  dancing 
around  it;  all  the  while  smacking  their  lips  and  making 
grimaces  as  if  they  were  anxious  to  have  a  taste  of  the 
delicious  meat.  In  a  short  time  one  of  the  dancers  makes 
a  grab  at  the  liver  and  bites  off  a  piece,  which  he  chews 
and  swallows  as  he  dances.  Then  the  others  follow  his 
example  until  all  the  liver  is  eaten.  If  any  of  the  pieces 
should  drop,  the  "medicine  man"  picks  it  up  and  carries 
it  in  the  palm  of  his  hand  for  the  dancers  to  eat,  after 
doing  which  they  lick  his  hand.  As  soon  as  the  liver  is 
all  eaten,  the  warriors  sit  down  as  before,  and  wait  to  see 
if  another  dog  is  thrown  in.  As  long  as  any  one  gives  a 
dog,  they  are  compelled  to  eat  its  liver  raw  and  warm,  and 
no  one  is  allowed  to  handle  it  except  the  "medicine  man." 
Women  are  forbidden  to  join  in  this  dance.  The  Siouxs 
think  that  those  who  thus  eat  the  liver  of  the  dog  will 
possess  that  animal's  bravery  and  sagacity. 

Before  the  meeting  was  over,  the  Snakes  took  a  great 
fancy  to  me,  and  in  order  to  celebrate  their  new  made 
truce  the  Siouxs  offered  to  trade  me  to  the  Snakes  for 
eleven  gallons  of  whiskey,  which  was  done,  and  I  was 
once  more  transferred  to  new  masters. 

My  new  owners  made  me  change  my  dress  and  paint  to 
conform  to  their  style,  and  I  was  adopted  into  the  tribe. 
An  Indian  who  had  lost  a  son  in  battle  took  me  into  his 
family,  and  from  that  time  forth  I  was  told  to  consider  him 
as  my  father,  and  his  squaw  as  my  mother.  But  although 
thus  made  one  of  themselves,  the  Indians  did  not  fail  to 
treat  me  with  considerable  harshness,  and  I  was  compelled 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  15 

to  do  some  of  the  severe  drudgery  usually  imposed  on  the 
women. 

The  Snakes  at  that  time  hunted  in  Iowa,  but  in  about  a 
year  after  my  joining  them  they  had  repeated  quarrels 
with  other  tribes,  and  with  the  whites.  For  a  few  months 
they  remained  in  Missouri,  but  eventually  packed  up  and 
struck  the  trail  for  the  west  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Our  tribe  hunted  through  Utah  for  a  while,  but  quarreled 
with  the  tribes  already  in  that  country,  and  therefore  we 
once  more  pushed  west,  and  crossing  the  mountains  that 
divided  us  from  California,  entered  that  country.  Here 
we  lived,  for  about  five  years,  generally  It  peace,  but  hav 
ing  occasional  skirmishes  with  the  Digger  Indians. 

These  Indians  are  a  wretched  and  degenerate  race, 
cowardly,  treacherous,  filthy  and  indolent.  Instead  of 
living  by  hunting,  as  was  the  case  with  our  tribe,  and 
nearly  all  the  others  east  of  the  California  Mountains,  these 
obtained  a  scanty  subsistence  by  digging  for  roots.  The 
women  do  the  digging  whilst  the  men  stay  in  the  lodges  or 
are  playing  at  some  game.  I  have  seen  hundreds  of  the 
women  at  a  time  out  in  this  employment.  They  carry  on 
their  backs  heavy  baskets  of  the  shape  of  old  fashioned 
straw  beehives,  and  in  their  hands  long  sticks  with  which 
to  dig  the  roots.  Early  in  the  morning  they  go  out  and 
keep  at  work  until  evening,  when  they  return  with  their 
baskets  full  of  roots.  Sometimes  they  procure  enough 
not  only  for  their  present  eating,  but  to  lay  up  for  winter 
use. 

The  men  among  the  Digger  Indians  wear  very  long  hair, 
but  that  of  the  women  is  cut  short.  Both  are  nearly 
naked,  and  filthy  in  the  extreme.  Most  of  them  are 


16  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

tatooed,  the  women  especially  displaying  in  general  a  large 
number  of  designs  on  their  person.  They  do  this  merely 
for  ornament,  and  not  for  the  purpose  of  showing  a  differ 
ence  in  rank  as  is  the  case  in  most  tribes  where  the  custom 
exists. 

Their  houses  or  lodges  are  very  simple.  In  the  summer 
they  put  a  number  of  bushes  together  in  the  shape  of  a 
cone,  and  into  this  they  creep  for  shelter  from  the  sun  by 
day,  and  to  sleep  by  night.  These  lodges  or  tents  are 
more  designed  to  keep  off  the  rays  of  the  sun  than  for 
shelter  from  inclement  weather.  For  the  cold  and  wet 
seasons  the  Diggers  in  the  northern  part  of  California  have 
a  different  kind  of  dwelling.  They  dig  a  pit  several  feet 
deep,  of  the  size  of  the  proposed  lodge.  Then  they  drive 
poles  into  the  earth  around  the  edge  of  the  pit,  and  bend 
them  over  so  that  they  will  meet  at  the  top,  where  they 
are  fastened  together,  making  a  covering  over  the  pit. 
They  then  cover  the  whole  building  with  earth  to  the 
thickness  of  several  inches,  or  even  a  foot,  leaving  a  small 
hole  at  the  top  to  serve  as  a  chimney.  Another  hole  is 
made  at  the  side,  large  enough  to  admit  the  body.  When 
they  wish  to  sleep  they  build  a  fire  in  the  center  of  the 
lodge,  then  creep  in  feet  foremost  and  lie  in  that  position 
to  the  fire. 

The  Diggers  have  a  curious  way  of  marrying.  When 
a  man  takes  a  fancy  to  a  girl  and  wants  her  as  his  squaw, 
he  speakes  to  her  parents  and  talks  to  her  a  little.  Then 
he  lies  down  with  her,  and  if  she  lies  still  they  are  con 
sidered  man  and  wife;  but  if  she  gets  up  and  runs  away, 
the  courtship  is  at  an  end,  and  the  man  never  tries  to  get 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  17 

her  again.  A  Digger  man  can  have  as  many  wives  as  he 
chooses,  but  the  woman  can  only  have  one  husband. 

When  a  Digger  dies  they  burn  him,  with  all  his  imple 
ments,  and  have  a  great  mourning  during  the  ceremony. 
They  believe  that  when  a  man  dies  his  spirit  goes  to  the 
East,  and  keeps  going  until  it  comes  to  a  great  water.  A 
large  boat  is  there  to  take  him  over.  All  the  good  get 
safely  across  and  go  to  a  very  large  house  where  they  eat, 
drink,  and  gamble,  until  they  are  tired,  when  they  go  off 
among  the  trees.  The  bad  people  who  go  in  the  boat 
reach  the  middle  of  the  water,  when  the  bottom  falls  out, 
and  they  are  lost  forever. 

Whilst  in  California  we  frequently  visited  what  is  now 
San  Francisco,  but  which  was  then  a  small  village  of  a 
dozen  houses,  known  by  the  Spaniards  as  "Yerba  Buena." 
A  few  French  and  Spanish  traders  were  the  only  white 
residents,  and  to  those  we  carried  down  bear  meat,  buffalo 
robes,  and  furs  of  various  kinds,  together  with  small  bits 
of  gold  found  in  the  mountains,  receiving  in  exchange 
blankets  and  "snakyeye,"  or  whiskey.  These  trips  were 
made  several  times  during  the  year,  but  were  finally  ter 
minated  by  the  occurrence  that  resulted  in  our  leaving 
that  part  of  the  country.  A  large  party  of  Diggers  sur 
prised  a  small  hunting  party  of  Snakes  and  took  from 
them  their  ponies.  A  number  of  warriors  were  sent 
out  from  our  tribe  to  demand  them  back,  but  the  Diggers 
had  surrendered  the  ponies  to  the  Spaniards,  and  now 
asked  their  protection  from  the  vengeance  of  the  Snakes. 
The  Spaniards  granted  their  request,  and  warned  our  party 
off.  As  soon  as  the  news  arrived  at  the  Snake  village, 
there  was  a  general  excitement,  and  all  who  were  able  to 


18  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

bear  arms  at  once  took  the  war  path.  The  Diggers  fled, 
but  were  tracked  to  the  coast,  where  they  were  supported 
by  several  Spaniards.  We  attacked  their  camp  at  day 
break,  and  a  desperate  fight  ensued.  The  Diggers  are 
generally  lazy  and  cowardly,  but  their  numbers  far  exceeded 
ours,  and  they  were  assisted  by  white  men.  In  the  end  we 
were  victors,  and  our  party  mercilessly  tomahawked  and 
scalped  all  within  their  reach.  Nearly  a  hundred  and  fifty 
scalps  were  borne  off  in  triumph  by  the  Snakes,  and 
among  the  trophies  were  the  scalps  of  some  white  men. 

The  result  of  this  fight  was  a  general  movement  of  the 
whites  on  the  one  hand  and  the  California  tribes  on  the 
other,  to  drive  us  out  of  the  country.  For  a  time  our  tribe 
stood  its  ground,  but  at  length  it  became  evident  that  we 
could  not  remain  peaceably  in  that  region,  so  we  once 
more  turned  our  faces  eastward  and  re-crossed  the  moun 
tains  to  Utah. 

During  our  stay  in  this  Territory,  which  did  not  exceed 
six  or  seven  moons,  our  principal  encampment  was  on 
the  banks  of  the  Great  Salt  Lake,  near  the  present  site  of 
Salt  Lake  City.  At  that  time  not  a  white  man  lived  in 
that  vast  wilderness,  though  not  many  years  afterwards  a 
large  city  sprang  up  where  our  wigwams  had  formerly 
stood. 

Once  more  pur  tribe  became  restless  and  dissatisfied 
with  their  location,  and  we  changed  our  hunting  ground  to 
Oregon,  remaining  there  about  two  years.  Here  we  came 
into  collision  with  the  Blackfeet  Indians,  one  of  the  most 
ferocious  and  cruel  tribes  in  existence.  They  are  always  at 
war  with  the  tribes  around  them  and  make  long  journeys 
for  the  purpose  of  attacking  some  other  nation.  Several 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  19 

skirmishes  took  place  between  our  bands  and  those  of  the 
Blackf eet,  •  in  which  sometimes  one  and  sometimes  the 
other  would  be  successful.  In  order  to  defend  ourselves 
from  the  attacks  of  the  Blackfeet,  our  tribe  made  an 
alliance  with  the  Flat  Heads.  These  are  a  very  singular 
race  who  strap  boards  on  the  heads  of  their  children  so 
as  to  change  their  shape.  There  are  two  kinds  of  Flat 
Heads,  those  who  have  the  head  flattened  from  the  fore 
head  back,  making  the  head  look  like  a  wedge  with  the 
sharp  edge  in  front,  whilst  the  others  have  the  sides  flat 
tened  so  as  to  have  the  point  of  the  wedge  upwards.  The 
party  allied  with  us  were  of  the  former  kind.  A  part  of 
the  Utahs  also  joined  us  about  this  time,  as  did  the  Crees. 

Our  associated  tribes  kept  going  farther  north,  not  find 
ing  any  place  to  settle  owing  to  the  constant  attacks  of  the 
Indians  through  whose  territories  we  passed.  With  the 
Bloods  and  the  Blackfeet  we  had  repeated  fights  until  we 
got  above  their  country,  beyond  the  territory  of  the  United 
States  and  into  the  country  of  the  Copper  Head  Indians, 
who  roamed  over  a  vast  extent  of  territory  extending  to 
the  Esquimaux  on  the  North. 

Our  associated  tribes  united  in  the  North  with  the  Copper 
Heads,  and  here  the  whole  lived  in  undisputed  possession 
from  that  time  to  the  present. 


CHAPTER   III. 
MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE   CONTINUED. 

Government  of  Snake  and  Copper  Head  Tribes — Women 
worked  bard — Marriage  Laws — Children  taught  the  use 
of  weapons  early — Funeral  ceremonies  of  the  Copper 
Heads — Their  Religion. 

The  Snakes  and  Copper  Heads  are  ruled  over  by  one 
General  Chief,  or  Inhupudia,  who  remains  in  power  for 
life  unless  deposed  by  the  vote  of  all  the  tribes.  Since  the 
union  of  the  tribes  there  has  been  but  one  General  Chief, 
now  (in  i860)  eighty  years  of  age,  named  O-wash-kah- 
ke-naw.  He  reigns  supreme  to  a  certain  extent  and 
appoints  sub-chiefs  to  govern  the  different  tribes.  These 
sub-chiefs  are  appointed  for  a  period  of  time  and  not  for 
life.  The  General  Chief  makes  known  his  laws  or  decrees 
for  the  government  of  the  tribes  in  various  matters,  and  it 
is  the  duty  of  the  sub-chiefs  to  communicate  these  decrees 
to  the  tribes  under  their  charge.  The  laws  in  relation  to 
stealing  are  very  strict.  Any  one  proved  to  have  stolen 
from  a  person  belonging  to  the  associated  tribes  is  con 
demned  to  death,  and  is  generally  burned  at  the  stake.  It 
is  looked  upon  as  very  disgraceful  for  an  Indian  to  tell  a 
lie  to  his  fellows. 

The  men  dress  with  leggins  fastened  to  their  moccasins. 
The  leggins  extend  up  to  the  knees.  A  tunic  of  furs  is 
worn  about  the  waist,  and  the  bare  place  between  the  tunic 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  21 

and  the  leggins  is  daubed  with  oil  and  paint.  From  the 
waist  upwards  the  body  is  daubed  with  oil  and  paint,  and 
the  hair  is  worn  long,  extending  down  over  the  breast  and 
back.  The  women  are  dressed  in  a  somewhat  similar 
manner. 

The  men  do  nothing  but  hunt  and  fight,  leaving  the 
women  and  captives  to  do  the  drudgery.  The  women  are 
very  hard  worked,  having  to  collect  wood  for  fires,  cut  up 
the  game,  carry  the  heavy  burdens  and  do  the  other  work 
which  the  warrior  considers  beneath  his  dignity  to  perform. 
They  are  very  hardy  and  can  perform  with  ease  labors 
which  many  white  men  would  shrink  from. 

The  marriage  laws  vary  among. different  tribes.  Among 
the  Copper  Heads  the  marriage  is  for  life.  The  Utahs 
marry  for  twelve  moons,  and  if  at  the  end  of  that  time 
they  separate  they  cannot  re- marry  at  any  subsequent  time. 
If  there  is  a  boy  born  of  the  marriage,  it  goes  with  the 
father,  and  if  a  girl  the  mother  takes  it.  The  Snakes 
marry  for  three  years,  and  if  after  that  time  they  choose  to 
live  together  they  are  married  for  life. 

The  birth  of  a  child  is  accomplished  without  any  trouble 
or  assistance  from  either  doctor,  midwife  or  nurse.  The 
mother  retires  to  her  lodge,  or  if  on  the  march,  steps  aside 
and  spreads  her  blanket,  and  in  the  course  of  two  or  three 
hours  she  is  up  and  about  her  accustomed  work,  or  on  the 
march,  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 

The  child,  when  young,  is  wrapped  around  with  band 
ages,  strapped  to  a  board  and  carried  on  the  mother's  back. 
When  in  the  lodge,  or  at  any  other  time  that  she  wishes  to 
take  the  child  down,  the  board  with  the  infant  on  it  is  set 
to  lean  against  the  wall  or  is  hung  to  a  peg. 


22  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

As  soon  as  a  boy  is  able  to  run  about  his  education  for 
the  chase  and  the  war  path  is  commenced.  A  bow  three 
and  a  half  feet  long,  strung  with  the  sinews  of  the  deer  or 
elk,  is  placed  in  his  hand,  and  a  bundle  of  two  feet  arrows, 
with  flint  heads  and  feathered  shafts,  is  given  him.  With 
these  he  practices  at  a  mark  until  he  is  proficient.  A 
board  is  then  set  up  and  a  circle  about  six  inches  in  diam 
eter  is  described  on  it.  The  young  Indian  takes  his  position 
at  a  short  distance  from  the  board  and  commences  throw 
ing  his  knife  at  it  with  the  endeavor  to  strike  the  center  of 
the  circle.  When  he  succeeds  in  doing  this  frequently,  he 
increases  his  distance  from  the  board,  and  keeps  on  retreat 
ing  until  he  can  strike  the  circle  with  unerring  aim  from 
as  great  a  distance  as  his  strength  will  permit. 

The  tomahawk  practice  comes  next.  A  mark  is  described 
on  the  bark  of  a  tree,  and  the  young  Indian  throws  his 
tomahawk  at  it  with  great  force,  endeavoring  to  make  it 
whirl  three  times  in  the  air,  and  then  to  strike  with  the 
sharp  pick  at  the  back  of  the  axe  head  so  that  it  shall 
remain  sticking  in  the  mark.  As  in  the  knife  practice, 
success  at  one  distance  is  immediately  followed  by  a  retreat 
of  a  few  paces  until  the  feat  can  be  accomplished  at  a  con 
siderable  distance.  The  same  routine  is  gone  through  with 
the  axe  part  so  that  it  shall  cleave  the  bark  in  the  very 
center  of  the  mark.  At  about  ten  years  of  age,  a  long  bow 
with  arrows  of  proportionate  length,  is  put  into  the  hands 
of  the  boy,  and  when  he  becomes  of  sufficient  age  to  man 
age  it  properly  he  is  instructed  in  the  use  of  the  rifle. 

The  boys  are  incited  to  begin  hunting  and  trapping 
early,  and  their  first  success  in  trapping  a  beaver,  shooting 
a  martin  or  spearing  a  muskrat  is  celebrated  with  as  much 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  23 

triumph  as  is  the  first  scalp  taken  in  battle  by  a  young 
warrior.  When  about  twelve  years  old  the  boys  join  the 
hunting  parties,  and  are  very  expert  in  the  use  of  the  bow. 
Many  widows  are  supported  entirely  by  their  sons  who 
have  just  passed  their  twelfth  year. 

The  small  children  and  the  very  old  people  are  allowed 
the  use  of  cooked  meat,  but  all  others  eat  their  food  raw. 
No  salt  is  used  but  pepper  is  frequently  obtained  from  the 
Russian  and  Hudson  Bay  trading  posts,  and  is  eaten  with 
the  food  as  a  great  addition.  Besides  the  privilege  of  eating 
cooked  meat  the  very  old  people  are  well  cared  for  by  the 
tribe,  and  are  allowed  to  remain  in  their  lodges  without 
being  called  out  to  hunt  or  work.  Everything  is  done  for 
them  and  they  enjoy  perfect  rest  until  their  death. 

The  Copper  Heads  do  not,  in  general,  bury  their  dead  in 
the  same  manner  with  many  of  the  tribes  in  the  United 
States  territory.  In  some  cases,  when  a  warrior  dies,  the 
dead  body  is  placed  in  a  birch  bark  canoe  in  which  are  also 
laid  the  dead  warrior's  rifle,  tcmahawk,  pipe,  knife  and  all 
the  other  articles  belonging  to  him  when  alive.  Two 
blankets  and  provisions  to  last  six  months  are  also  placed 
in  the  canoe.  A  poor  miserable  dog  is  next  procured  and 
hung  up  by  the  hind  legs  to  a  tree  or  pole  stuck  in  the 
ground.  The  throat  of  the  dog  is  cut  and  the  animal 
suffered  to  bleed  to  death.  The  object  of  this  ceremony  is 
to  provide  a  dog  to  hunt  with  in  the  spirit  land  and  the 
bad  blood  is  let  out  so  as  to  fit  the  animal  for  its  new 
sphere  of  existence.  A  poor  dog  is  as  serviceable  as  a  good 
one  for  the  happy  hunting  grounds  if  the  bad  blood  is 
taken  out.  Some  powdered  roots  are  then  sprinkled  over 
the  body,  and  the  canoe  with  its  contents  is  launched  on 


24  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

the  river,  if  there  is  one  in  the  neighborhood,  and  the 
deceased  warrior  goes  on  his  way  to  the  happy  hunting 
grounds.  If  there  is  no  river  near,  the  canoe  with  its 
contents  is  placed  on  the  branches  of  a  tree,  or  on  a  tem 
porary  scaffold,  and  left  there.  Sometimes  in  conformity 
with  the  wishes  of  the  deceased  the  body  is  buried  under 
the  roots  of  a  tree  or  placed  in  a  hollow  log  to  wait  until 
there  is  some  good  company  to  join  in  the  journey  to  the 
happy  hunting  grounds. 

The  religion  of  these  tribes  is  very  simple.  They 
worship  the  Great  Spirit  by  standing  and  praying  with 
arms  uplifted  to  the  sky.  At  times  when  they  see  a  dark 
storm-cloud  rising  up  the  sky  they  address  it,  believing  the 
Great  Spirit  to  be  hid  within  it.  After  a  prayer,  on  some 
particular  occasions,  they  drink  "snakyeye"  or  whiskey,  and 
dance  with  whooping  and  yelling.  They  do  not  believe  in 
a  place  of  punishment  hereafter.  Those  who  have  com 
mitted  crimes  in  this  world  will  be  punished  here  by  their 
tribe,  or  else  the  Great  Spirit  will  visit  them  with  sickness 
or  trouble.  After  this  life  is  over,  the  spirits  all  go  to  the 
happy  hunting  grounds,  where  there  is  plenty  of  game  and 
where  no  enemies  will  come  to  disturb  them. 


CHAPTER   IV. 
MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE  CONTINUED. 

Climate  —  Esquimaux  —  Trading — Mode  of  Sleeping  — 
Method  of  Taming  Ponies  and  Elks  —  Weapons  — 
Making  Pipes. 

The  territory  occupied  by  the  Copper  Heads  and  the 
associated  tribes  lies  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  the 
high  latitudes,  extending  so  far  north  as  the  Russian  pos 
sessions.  Their  hunting  grounds  cover  a  space  of  several 
hundred  miles,  and  the  natural  characteristics  of  the  country 
are  much  diversified.  Baren  mountain  ranges  alternate 
with  wide  plains,  fruitful  valleys  and  dense  forests.  We 
met  with  but  few  rivers  in  our  hunt,  but  from  the  Esquimaux 
and  a  few  stragglers  belonging  to  tribes  on  the  east  side  of 
the  mountains  we  had  reports  of  many  rivers  and  big 
waters  on  the  other  side.  Our  northern  head-quarters 
was  about  three  weeks'  journey  from  the  Artie  ocean.  To 
the  northeast  of  us,  about  two  weeks'  journey,  was  Big 
Esquimaux  village. 

The  climate  in  the  northern  part  of  our  hunting  grounds 
is  cold  through  the  greater  part  of  the  year  and  the 
ground  mostly  covered  with  snow.  The  trees  in  this  region 
are  of  pine,  cedar,  white  hemlock  and  some  other  kinds. 
During  the  greater  part  of  the  year  they  remain  bare,  but 
as  soon  as  the  temperature  begins  to  moderate  a  little  the 
leaves  come  out  about  the  size  of  a  squirrel's  ear.  They 


26  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

continue  out  but  for  a  short  time,  when  they  drop  off,  and 
the  tree  is  once  more  bare.  The  elk,  reindeer  and  the 
ponies  of  the  Indians  all  feed  on  the  bark  of  the  trees  and 
the  moss. 

Snow  falls  repeatedly  during  the  year,  but  no  rain. 
There  are  numerous  storms. 

With  the  Esquimaux,  who  live  on  the  shores  of  the 
Arctic  Ocean,  our  tribes  often  had  skirmishes.  The  Esqui 
maux  are  a  dirty  people,  generally  short,  thick  set,  with 
matted  hair,  and  afflicted  with  the  scurvy.  They  wrap 
themselves  up  in  furs  and  live  on  any  kind  of  carion. 
They  will  eat  worms,  bugs  or  snakes  when  they  cannot  get 
game;  but  their  principal  luxury  is  oil.  They  make  oil 
from  the  carcasses  of  the  animals  they  obtain  and  enjoy  it 
as  a  great  luxury.  They  live  in  huts  made  of  snow  and 
ice,  and  when  moving  from  place  to  place  they  have  tents 
made  of  furs  and  skins.  In  traveling,  they  use  sleds  drawn 
by  reindeer  and  dogs.  The  Copper  Heads  never  have  sleds, 
but  use  ponies  and  elk,  both  for  riding  and  packing  game 
and  other  burdens. 

The  Copper  Heads  principally  traded  with  the  Russian 
posts,  and  made  trips  to  them  several  times  a  year.  They 
also  sent  an  expedition  twice  a  year  to  the  Red  River  settle 
ment,  and  from  there  to  St.  Paul.  All  the  dried  meats, 
furs  and  other  articles  are  packed  on  the  backs  of  ponies 
and  elks  or  carried  by  women  and  such  captives  as  are  in 
the  keeping  of  the  tribe.  The  mode  of  packing  on  the 
backs  of  women  is  for  a  belt,  three  fingers  wide,  to  be 
passed  across  the  forehead  and  lie  down  the  back.  The 
pack  is  placed  so  as  to  rest  on  the  bottom  of  the  belt  and 
lie  on  the  shoulders  and  neck.  The  bearer  is  obliged  to 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  27 

stoop  forward  in  walking,  and  the  back  is  frequently  bent 
from  this  cause.  Being  a  captive,  I  was  sometimes  com 
pelled  to  carry  a  load  but  about  fifteen  pounds  less  than 
my  own  weight,  and  the  squaws  have  to  carry  within 
about  twenty  pounds  of  their  own  weight. 

From  the  Russians  we  obtained  blankets,  powder,  rifles 
and  other  necessary  articles  in  exchange  for  furs  and  dried 
meats.  Among  other  things  purchased  of  the  Russians  the 
tribe  possessed  a  compass  and  a  watch,  enclosed  in  a 
copper  case.  They  learned  the  use  of  the  compass  suffi 
ciently  to  enable  them  to  travel  by  its  aid. 

The  lodges  are  made  of  poles  stuck  in  the  ground  and 
tied  together  at  the  top  so  as  to  leave  a  hole  in  the  center. 
Furs  and  skins  are  then  fastened  around  and  made  tight, 
except  at  the  entrance.  A  fire  is  built  in  the  center  of  the 
lodge  and  the  members  of  the  lodge  creep  in  and  sleep  with 
their  feet  to  the  fire  and  their  heads  to  the  side  of  the 
lodge. 

In  traveling,  when  the  snow  is  on  the  ground  and  the 
party  do  not  take  the  lodge  fixtures  along,  the  snow  is 
stamped  down  and  blanket  spread  on  the  hardened 
snow.  On  this  the  Indian  lies  down  and  rolls  himself  up 
in  the  blanket.  With  this  mode  of  sleeping  there  is  no 
danger  of  taking  cold. 

When  the  snow  is  very  deep  and  light  the  hunters  wear 
wide  snow  shoes  to  prevent  their  sinking  at  every  step. 
The  ponies  are  also  shod  with  wide  moccasins  stuffed  with 
hair  when  the  snow  is  so  deep  that  they  cannot  travel 
with  ease. 

The  beasts  of  burden  used  by  the  Indians  are  ponies, 
elks  and  dogs.  Both  elks  and  ponies  have  to  be  broken 


28  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

into  submission  to  man  before  they  can  be  used.  When 
the  Indians  want  to  break  in  a  pony  for  riding,  one  of 
them  mounts  a  well  broke  pony,  and,  after  riding  around 
for  a  little  while,  suddenly  dashes  up  to  the  untamed  pony, 
and  seizing  it  by  the  mane,  leaps  on  its  back.  The  first 
effort  of  the  surprised  animal  is  to  throw  the  unexpected 
burden  over  its  head,  or  failing  in  this  to  rise  on  its  hind 
legs  and  throw  its  rider  backwards.  To  prevent  either  of 
these  purposes  being  accomplished  the  rider  clasps  his 
arms  around  the  neck  of  the  pony  and  crosses  his  legs 
under  its  belly  so  that  the  toes  are  inserted  between  the 
forelegs  of  the  animal.  By  these  means  the  pony  is  ren 
dered  unable  to  jerk  the  rider  off  in  any  direction.  Foiled 
in  its  efforts  to  dislodge  the  unusual  encumbrance  on  its 
back  the  pony  generally  sets  off  in  a  wild  gallop,  in  which 
it  is  indulged  by  the  rider,  and  an  unexpected  difficulty 
of  breathing  soon  brings  the  unruly  beast  to  terms.  As 
soon  as  it  gets  somewhat  tired  of  its  useless  excitements, 
the  rider  steals  his  hand  down  to  its  nose  and  there  holds 
some  sugar  and  salt.  If  the  animal  prove  insensible  to  the 
temptation  thus  held  out,  the  rider  gradually  works  his 
hand  up  until  he  gets  some  of  the  mixture  into  its  mouth. 
The  taste  of  these  articles  is  generally  sufficient  to  subdue 
the  strong  will  of  the  pony,  and  to  complete  the  work  the 
rider  puffs  tobacco  smoke  up  its  nostrils.  It  is  now  thor 
oughly  broken  in,  and  will  sit  easily  under  a  rider  or  follow 
its  owner  like  a  dog.  The  Indian  never  abuses  his  horse, 
but  always  treats  it  as  a  friend. 

The  elk  is  of  great  service  to  the  Indians  in  high  latitudes, 
and  shares  with  the  pony  the  attentions  of  its  owner.  The 
method  of  catching  and  taming  elk  is  for  one  hunter  to 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  29 

throw  a  lasso,  or  running  noose  at  the  end  of  a  long  line, 
on  one  horn,  whilst  another  hunter  does  the  same  to  the 
other  horn.  The  lines  are  then  quickly  made  fast  to  two 
trees,  and  the  hind  legs  tied  to  two  other  trees  in  a  similar 
manner.  Whilst  thus  fastened  in  a  nearly  immovable 
position  the  man  who  is  to  break  in  the  animal  comes  up 
and  leaps  on  his  back.  The  ropes  are  simultaneously  cut 
by  the  other  Indians,  and  the  elk  dashes  off  with  its  burden. 
The  rider  embraces  the  horns  with  his  arms  and  crosses 
his  feet  below  the  belly  of  the  animal,  as  in  breaking  ponies. 
The  elk  pursues  his  headlong  career  for  miles,  the  branch 
ing  horns  preventing  his  dashing  among  the  trees  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  hurt  the  rider.  After  the  elk  is  thoroughly 
spent  by  his  long  scamper,  it  is  treated  in  the  same  manner 
as  in  the  case  of  ponies. 

The  weapons  of  the  Snakes  and  Copper-Heads  consist 
of  rifles,  bows  and  arrows,  spears,  tomahawks,  hunting 
knives,  scalping  knives,  and  war  clubs.  The  arrow  heads 
are  made  of  flint,  and  much  care  is  used  in  digging  up, 
selecting  and  splitting  the  proper  kind  of  flint.  The  pipes 
are  also  made  of  flint,  and  take  a  large  amount  of  patience 
and  labor  in  their  manufacture.  The  pipe  I  made  for  my 
self  was  first  squared  out  from  a  flint  and  then  drilled 
with  a  steel  implement,  worked  by  hand.  I  worked  thirty 
days  to  complete  the  boring  process,  using  bear's  oil  and 
water  to  moisten  the  stone.  After  the  hole  was  bored, 
another  steel  chisel  was  taken,  and  the  pipe  chipped  into 
proper  shape.  In  doing  the  chiseling,  the  pipe  was  placed 
between  two  other  stones  to  act  as  a  vice,  and  the  whole 
pressed  between  my  knees.  Then  I  chipped  away,  using 
my  clenched  hand  as  a  mallet.  After  the  pipe  had  been 


3o  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

chipped  into  shape  and  then  ornamented  with  cut  designs, 
it  was  first  oiled  and  then  dyed  a  pale  red  with  a  pigment 
extracted  from  a  root.  A  stem  of  cherry  or  other  wood 
inserted  in  this  pipe  completes  it. 


CHAPTER  V. 
MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S   NARRATIVE  CONTINUED. 

Hunting  Buffalo — The  attack — Cutting  up  the  carcass- 
Packing  to  the  camp — Drying  the  meat — Buffalo  hunt 
ing  in  winter — Trapping  hears  and  wolves — Spearing 
muskrats — Dressing  skins — Different  modes  of  fishing. 

Hunting  is  the  principal  occupation  of  the  Indians,  and 
their  only  means  of  subsistence.  The  climate  does  not 
admit  the  raising  of  crops,  even  if  the  Indians  were  dis 
posed  to  till  the  ground,  which  they  are  not.  During  the 
fall  the  camps  are  removed  to  the  lower  part  of  the  British 
territory  in  order  to  hunt  the  buffalo. 

To  show  how  the  buffalo  are  killed,  1  will  relate  my 
experience  on  one  of  the  hunts  in  which  I  was  engaged. 

Our  hunting  party,  with  the  families  of  the  hunters, 
traveled  for  seven  days  before  reaching  the  traces  of  any 
herds.  A  few  stray  bulls  were  killed,  and  some  of  their 
flesh  eaten,  but  it  was  too  hard  and  tough  for  good  eating. 
At  length  we  arrived  at  the  place  where  there  were  strong 
hopes  of  finding  buffalo,  and  our  camp  was  fixed.  Early 
next  morning  the  hunting  party  rode  off,  leaving  the 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  31 

squaws  and  children  to  make  arrangements  for  preparing 
the  meat  when  it  should  be  brought  to  the  camp. 

After  riding  a  short  distance,  we  came  on  traces  of  a 
large  herd,  and  then  rode  forward  in  high  spirits.  We 
soon  came  in  sight  of  some  bulls  feeding  quietly,  and 
beyond  them  could  discover  a  large  herd  of  cows.  The 
difference  between  the  sexes  can  be  seen  at  a  long  distance 
by  their  mode  of  herding.  The  bulls  feed  singly,  and  are 
scattered  over  the  prairies,  whilst  the  cows  huddle  together 
as  if  for  protection.  The  bulls  are  the  most  savage,  but 
the  cows  are  the  fleetest  of  foot,  and  are  very  difficult  to 
approach.  Their  flesh  is,  however,  more  highly  esteemed 
than  that  of  the  bulls,  it  being  more  tender  and  juicy. 

On  reconnoitering  the  respective  groups  it  became  evi 
dent  that  we  could  not  reach  the  cows  without  first  break 
ing  through  the  herd  of  bulls,  and  this  we  prepared  to  do 
at  once.  Riding  slowly  up  so  as  not  to  alarm  them,  we 
approached  within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  them  before 
they  took  much  notice  of  us.  Then  they  ceased  feeding 
and  commenced  bellowing  furiously. 

At  this  the  signal  was  given,  and  our  fleet  ponies  were 
spurred  rapidly  towards  the  herd.  When  close  to  them, 
each  hunter  singled  out  a  buffalo,  and  dashing  impetuously 
past  the  animal,  discharged  an  arrow  into  its  neck.  Those 
whose  arrows  did  not  fatally  wound  the  beasts  were  at 
once  exposed  to  imminent  danger,  as  nothing  exceeds  a 
wounded  buffalo  in  ferocity  and  strength.  Rising  for  a 
moment  on  their  hind  feet,  they  dash  furiously  at  the 
hunters,  butting  at  them,  and  attempting  to  upset  horse 
and  man.  Sometimes  they  succeed,  and  then  the  hunter 


32  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

suffers  terrible  wounds,  if  not  death,  from  the  horns  of  the 
enraged  animal. 

Five  or  six  bulls  were  killed  in  the  attack,  and  the  rest 
scattered  widely  over  the  prairie.  The  sight  of  the  im 
mense  herd  of  cows  in  the  distance  excited  the  hunters, 
and  prevented  them  from  stopping  to  make  any  use  of  the 
bulls  we  had  killed.  We  rode  forward  at  a  moderate 
speed  for  some  distance,  reserving  the  strength  of  our 
horses  until  we  should  be  compelled  to  use  their  speed.  At 
length  the  scouts  of  the  herd  saw  us  advancing,  and  in 
two  or  three  seconds  the  whole  herd  was  in  motion.  The 
first  movements  of  the  buffalo  are  slow,  increasing  in 
speed  as  they  go.  At  the  first  symptoms  of  alarm  our 
party  raised  a  shout  to  encourage  the  horses,  and  we  were 
suddenly  flying  along  at  full  speed,  the  horses  as  much 
excited  as  their  riders.  The  excitement  was  intense.  At 
last  we  were  close  to  them,  and  the  arrows  flew  thick  and 
fast  into  the  herd.  In  a  few  moments  we  were  in  the 
midst  of  the  press,  firing  arrows  and  using  spears  among 
the  animals  right  and  left. 

The  scene  was  full  of  wild  excitement  and  not  without 
danger.  Some  of  our  party  were  thrown  from  their 
horses  and  suffered  severe  bruises  and  wounds  from  the 
feet  and  horns  of  the  enraged  buffaloes.  At  last  the 
signal  of  recall  was  given,  and  our  party  reined  up  to  rest 
from  the  chase  and  dispose  of  the  spoils. 

After  dismounting  and  hobbling  the  ponies,  the  hunters 
rested  awhile  before  proceeding  to  the  work  of  cutting  up 
the  buffaloes  in  order  to  take  them  home.  When  rested, 
the  hunters  began  the  labor  of  skinning  and  cutting 
up  the  carcasses.  The  animal  was  first  placed  on  its  knees, 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  33 

and  its  hind  legs  stretched  out  to  their  full  length,  so  that 
the  principal  weight  lay  on  the  belly  of  the  beast.  The 
small  hump  of  flesh  about  the  neck  was  first  cut  out  and 
carefully  placed  on  one  side.  The  skin  was  next  divided 
along  the  back  bone,  and  stripped  down  on  either  side. 
After  this  the  animal  was  cut  up  in  various  pieces,  all  the 
best  parts  being  taken  and  the  ofTal  left  for  the  wolves. 
The  fat  and  tallow  were  put  in  the  hide,  which  was  then 
slung  around  the  necks  of  the  packing  ponies.  Along 
each  side  of  the  pony's  back  was  placed  a  pole,  fastened  to 
the  animal's  neck.  The  foot  of  the  buffalo's  hind  quar 
ter  was  thrust  through  the  gambril  of  the  forequarter,  and 
the  quarters  then  slung  across  the  back  of  the  pony  and 
hanging  down  on  each  side.  The  poles  keep  the  burden 
off  from  the  sides  of  the  pony,  and  prevent  its  back  being 
broken.  The  other  portions  of  the  game  were  carried  in  a 
similar  manner. 

When  the  meat  was  brought  to  the  camp,  the  women 
cut  it  into  long  strips,  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick. 
These  strips  were  hung  on  sticks  to  dry,  which  operation 
takes  several  days.  When  thoroughly  dried,  the  women 
bend  it  up  and  tie  it  into  bundles,  in  which  shape  it  is 
preserved  for  home  consumption  or  taken  to  the  trading- 
posts,  to  be  bartered  for  ammunition  or  other  articles 
wanted  by  the  Indians.  Some  parts  of  the  buffalo,  not 
fitted  for  making  the  dried  meat,  were  dried  by  a  very 
fierce  fire  until  it  became  brittle.  A  buffalo  hide  was  then 
spread  out,  with  the  skin  uppermost,  and  the  dried  pieces 
of  meat  spread  on  it,  and  thrashed  into  small  bits  by 
sticks.  The  tallow  of  the  buffalo  was  cut  up,  melted  and 
poured  on  the  powdered  meat,  which  was  then  worked  up 


34  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

until  it  became  well  mixed.  Whilst  still  warm,  it  was 
pressed  into  bags  made  of  buffalo  skin,  which  were  then 
sown  up.  When  cold  the  mixture,  known  to  the  whites 
as  pemican,  becomes  as  hard  as  a  rock,  and  makes  good 
eating.  The  marrow  bones  were  boiled  in  water  for  their 
oil,  which,  when  extracted,  was  poured  into  the  bladder  of 
the  animal.  One  bladder  will  hold  eleven  or  twelve 
pounds  of  oil. 

Buffalo  are  frequently  killed  in  winter  without  any  of 
the  dangers  experienced  in  the  fall  hunt.  The  alternate 
thawing  and  freezing  forms  a  thick  crust  on  the  surface  of 
the  soft  snow.  The  heavy  animals  break  through  this 
thin  crust,  and  plunge  cumbrously  into  the  deep  snow, 
whilst  the  Indian  hunter  glides  easily  on  his  snow  shoes 
close  to  the  side  of  the  unwieldly  monster,  and  dispatches 
it  at  his  ease. 

Elk,  reindeer,  grizzly  bears,  wolves,  with  some  other 
animals,  are  killed  with  rifles,  or  arrows,  frequently  with 
the  aid  of  dogs.  The  dogs  are  of  a  strong,  powerful  breed 
and  are  trained  to  catch  by  the  ears  or  jaw,  so  that  the  fur 
is  not  injured.  The  elk  and  reindeer  are  very  difficult  to 
approach,  having  a  keen  scent,  and  show  fight  if  close 
pressed.  The  attack  on  a  grizzly  bear  is  also  dangerous, 
and  the  hunter  frequently  has  to  fight  desperately  for  his 
life. 

Black  bears  and  wolves  are  frequently  caught  by  a 
peculiar  trap.  A  young  sapling  tree  is  bent  down  so  that 
its  top  is  but  a  few  feet  from  the  earth.  A  rope,  formed 
of  pieces  of  raw  hide  firmly  twisted  together,  is  fastened  to 
the  top  of  the  tree  and  a  strong  double  hook  of  iron  or 
steel  is  attached  to  the  other  end  of  the  rope.  One  arm  of 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  35 

the  hook  is  lightly  caught  in  a  log  or  a  stake  driven  in  the 
ground,  and  on  the  other  arm  a  piece  of  meat  is  firmly  at 
tached.  The  bear  or  wolf  seizes  the  meat,  and  in  its  en 
deavors  to  carry  it  off  or  tear  it  to  pieces,  releases  the  hook 
from  the  log.  The  tree  top  suddenly  flies  up,  the  hook 
catching  the  animal  in  the  mouth  or  lip,  and  lifting  it 
partially  or  completely 'from  the  ground.  In  this  position 
it  is  found  and  dispatched  by  the  hunter,  when  he  comes 
to  examine  his  traps. 

Beavers  are  trapped  in  great  numbers,  as  are  martins 
and  other  fur-bearing  animals.  In  the  depth  of  winter  the 
muskrat  houses  are  sought  out  and  pierced  with  strong 
and  sharp  spears  which  transfix  the  muskrats  and  bring 
them  out  on  the  points. 

The  skins  of  the  animals  killed  are  dried  and  cured  by 
the  women.  When  the  hide  is  taken  off  and  brought 
home,  the  women  scrape  off  the  flesh  with  a  bone,  sharpened 
at  one  end.  When  the  skin  is  thoroughly  scraped,  small 
holes  are  cut  all  around  it,  and  strings  run  through  it, 
which  are  then  lashed  to  the  poles  of  the  lodge  inside. 
The  fire  burning  in  the  lodge  dries  the  skin  in  one  night,  and 
in  the  morning  it  is  taken  down  and  folded  so  as  to  be 
packed.  In  dressing  the  skins,  the  grease  is  taken  off  and 
the  skins  dipped  in  water  containing  the  brains  of  a  deer, 
after  which  they  are  boiled  and  stretched  on  four  square 
poles  tied  and  pushed  into  the  ground.  The  skin  is  then 
scraped  with  a  bone  and  kept  before  a  slow  fire  until  per 
fectly  dry.  It  is  then  dipped  in  the  brain  water  and 
scraped  dry  again,  after  which  it  is  dipped  in  the  water  a 
third  time,  and  every  time  the  water  wrung  out  before  the 
skin  is  stretched.  If  it  remains  hairy  or  stiff  after  all  this 


36  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

working,  it  is  drawn  over  a  cord  as  thick  as  a  man's  finger, 
as  hard  as  the  women  can  pull,  and  this  softens  it  greatly. 
The  skin  is  next  smoked.  A  hole  is  dug  in  the  ground, 
about  a  foot  deep,  in  which  is  put  a  little  water  and  some 
rotten  wood.  The  skin  is  then  sewed  in  a  bag  and  hung 
over  the  smoke  for  about  ten  minutes,  when  it  is  ready 
for  use. 

The  streams  are  well  stocked  with  fish  and  these  are 
caught  in  various  ways.  Sometimes  they  are  speared,  and 
some  are  shot  with  arrows  and  some  caught  by  stakes  ar 
ranged  across  the  bed  of  the  stream.  When  the  rivers  and 
small  lakes  are  frozen  over  in  winter  a  hole  is  cut  in  the 
ice  and  over  it  a  little  tent  is  made  with  three  sticks  and  a 
blanket,  so  as  to  close  out  the  light.  The  Indian  lies  with 
his  face  over  the  hole.  He  can  then  see  to  some  depth 
and  when  a  fish  passes  it  is  pierced  with  a  short  spear  and 
brought  to  the  surface. 

There  are  various  other  ways  of  hunting,  trapping  and 
fishing  but  these  will  serve  as  specimens. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE  CONTINUED. 

Is  recognised  as  a  white  man — War  dance — Fight  with 
Blackfeet  Indians — Tomahawking  and  burning  captives. 

In  1861  the  winter  in  the  north  was  exceedingly 
severe  and  the  game  was  compelled  to  seek  a  more  south 
ern  latitude  to  get  something  to  eat.  We  followed  them 
down  but  were  in  great  danger  of  perishing  of  famine.  In 
this  strait  our  only  hope  was  in  obtaining  some  additional 
supplies  from  the  trading  posts.  A  large  detachment  was 
therefore  sent  off  to  the  post  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  supplies.  With  this  band  1 
traveled. 

We  arrived  at  the  post  after  a  long  journey  and  were  re 
ceived  with  kindness.  The  few  furs  and  skins  we  were 
able  to  gather  up  we  traded  for  provisions  but  we  were  still 
in  great  want.  That  night  we  camped  near  the  trading 
post  and  waited  to  plead  our  cause  with  the  agent  next 
day. 

In  the  morning  whilst  the  chief  of  our  party  and  some 
of  the  leading  warriors  were  talking  to  the  agent  and  ex 
plaining  to  him  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  tribe  one 
of  the  traders  came  into  our  camp.  Whilst  looking  around 
and  talking  he  came  close  to  me  and  something  seemed  to 
attract  his  attention.  Looking  me  in  the  eyes  he  suddenly 
spoke  in  French.  I  did  not  understand  him  but  he  im- 


38  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

mediately  addressed  me  in  Indian  language,  saying:  "You 
are  no  Indian."  I  replied  that  I  was  for  I  never  remem 
bered  anything  of  a  life  different  from  the  one  I  was  lead 
ing.  He  insisted  that  I  was  no  Indian  but  a  pale  face  and 
demanded  that  I  should  come  before  the  agent.  I  was 
about  to  do  so,  when  some  of  the  tribe  interfered  to  pre 
vent  me.  An  angry  discussion  now  took  place  between 
the  trader  and  the  Indians,  ending  in  my  being  taken  be 
fore  the  agent  himself. 

On  my  entering  the  circle  where  the  chiefs  and  principal 
warriors  were  conferring  with  the  agent  I  was  brought  be 
fore  the  latter  by  the  trader,  and  my  white  birth  stated  by 
him.  The  agent  examined  my  features  closely  and  en 
deavored  to  get  from  me  by  conversation  whether  I  was  a 
white  or  not.  1  was  surprised  by  these  statements  but  re 
plied  that  I  always  considered  myself  an  Indian.  The 
members  of  the  tribe  present  in  the  council  were  greatly 
disturbed  when  I  was  brought  before  the  agent  and  on 
being  appealed  to  strongly  asserted  my  Indian  parentage. 
1  could  not  fail  to  remark  their  alarm  lest  I  should  be 
claimed  as  a  white,  and  pondered  over  it  for  some  time. 

The  agent  was  quieted  for  a  time  but  was  not  satisfied 
and  all  the  post  continued  to  watch  our  movements  nar 
rowly.  Next  day  whilst  getting  some  provisions  from  the 
post,  our  chief  was  again  asked  about  me  and  was  told 
that  no  more  provisions  would  be  given  the  party  unless  I 
was  surrendered  to  the  whites.  At  this  the  chief  returned 
to  the  camp  in  dismay  and  a  brief  council  was  held  from 
which  I  was  excluded.  The  result  was  that  our  camp  was 
suddenly  broken  up  and  the  trail  immediately  struck  for 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  39 

the  main  body  of  the  tribe  leaving  the  rest  of  the  needed 
supplies  behind  us. 

On  our  homeward  march  we  fell  in  with  a  party  of 
Blackfeet  who  wished  to  rob  us  of  our  ponies  and  pro 
visions.  After  a  short  skirmish  the  enemy  was  driven 
back,  but  continued  to  hover  on  our  trail  in  order  to  find 
out  our  destination. 

A  busy  scene  presented  itself  at  the  camp  on  our  arrival. 
Our  hunters  in  their  excursions  in  pursuit  of  game  had 
come  on  traces  of  the  Blackfeet  Indians,  and  had  followed 
the  trail  until  they  discovered  the  camp  of  a  large  war 
party  which  had  evidently  come  out  with  the  intention  of 
meeting  and  driving  us  back  to  the  north  again.  A  grand 
council  of  the  tribe  was  gathered  and  the  warriors  were 
giving  their  opinions  as  to  the  proper  course  to  be  pursued. 
Two  alternatives  presented  themselves.  One  was  to  go 
back  to  the  snows  and  starvation  of  the  northern  winter, 
and  the  other  to  meet  the  opposing  Blackfeet  and  endeavor 
to  force  our  way  through  them  to  the  hunting  grounds 
farther  south.  There  was  a  general  disposition  to  take  the 
latter  course,  and  several  chiefs  made  stirring  appeals  to 
the  pride  and  vengeance  of  the  warriors.  The  numerous 
battles  with  the  Blackfeet  in  former  years  were  referred  to, 
and  tjie  blood  of  the  slain  invoked  to  stir  up  the  hearts  of 
the  warriors  to  revenge.  Finally  one  of  the  chiefs  sprang 
to  his  feet  and  commenced  chanting  an  account  of  his 
warlike  deeds,  and  boasted  of  what  he  would  do  in  the 
approaching  fight.  Whilst  he  sang  he  danced  around  in  a 
circle,  stamping  fiercely  on  the  ground  at  every  step. 
Every  now  and  then  he  stopped  to  raise  his  war-cry. 

In  a  few  minutes  another  warrior  sprang  up  and  joined 


40  MATTHEW  BRAYTON  • 

the  dance  and  song,  to  the  music  of  a  small  drum  and 
rattle.  Then  another  and  another  leaped  up,  until  all  the 
fighting  men  of  the  tribe  signified  their  intention  of  attack 
ing  the  enemy.  During  the  dance  the  utmost  excitement 
existed,  and  the  piercing  yells  worked  the  warriors  up  to 
mad  frenzy.  Knives  and  tomahawks  were  waved  in  the 
air,  and  all  the  movements  of  fighting  and  scalping  an 
enemy  gone  through  with. 

Next  day  a  large  war  party  set  out  in  the  direction  of 
the  Blackfeet  camp.  I  accompanied  the  party.  In  a  short 
time  we  struck  the  trail  of  one  of  their  bands,  and  followed 
it  up  till  evening,  when  we  discovered  ourselves  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  enemy's  camp.  A  hurried  council  was  held, 
and  it  was  decided  to  conceal  ourselves  in  the  woods  until 
morning,  and  make  the  attack  at  sunrise.  After  placing 
sentinels  to  keep  watch  of  the  camp,  our  party  lay  down 
among  the  brush  and  waited  for  day. 

At  the  first  dawn  of  day  we  were  all  awake  and  creep 
ing  stealthily  towards  the  edge  of  the  wood,  beyond  which 
the  camp  was  pitched.  As  we  neared  the  opening  the 
Blackfeet  discovered  our  approach  and  raised  an  alarm. 
In  an  instant  there  was  great  confusion  in  the  camp,  and 
their  warriors  were  rushing  backwards  and  forwards, 
snatching  up  their  weapons  and  attempting  to  seek  arf place 
of  shelter  from  the  coming  attack. 

At  this  moment  our  war  chief  blew  a  blast  on  a  horn 
carried  by  him,  and  at  the  signal  a  volley  of  shot  and 
arrows  was  fired  into  the  camp.  Several  of  the  Blackfeet 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  others  ran  to  the  woods 
for  protection.  Some  of  our  warriors  dashed  into  the 
opening,  cut  down  the  wounded  and  rapidly  scalped  them, 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  41 

raising  a  terrible  war  whoop  as  each  bloody  scalp  was 
snatched  from  the  head  of  the  prostrate  foe.  As  soon  as 
the  work  was  done  they  again  sought  the  protection  of  the 
trees. 

The  fight  was  now  conducted  from  behind  the  trees  and 
every  one  fought  after  his  own  fashion.  Sometimes  one 
side  appeared  to  gain  the  advantage,  and  then  the  fortune 
would  change.  Hours  passed  away,  and  both  parties  were 
very  much  scattered,  but  the  Blackfeet  were  generally  in 
retreat.  At  last  they  broke  up  and  fled,  when  our  warriors 
returned,  plundered  the  camp  of  what  little  was  left  in  it, 
and  took  the  trail  homewards.  A  number  of  scalps  were 
borne  home  in  triumph. 

Three  captives  were  taken  and  their  arms  tied  firmly  to 
their  sides,  after  which  they  were  driven  before  us  to  the 
camp.  On  arriving  there  the  party  was  received  with 
shouts  of  triumph,  and  the  women  and  children  made  a 
tremendous  noise.  Some  of  the  squaws  who  had  lost 
husbands  in  battle  came  up  to  the  captives  and  loaded 
them  with  insults  and  abuse,  shaking  their  fists  in  the 
faces  of  the  victims  and  acting  like  mad  women.  The 
captives  remained  perfectly  indifferent  to  these  insults,  and 
made  no  sign  of  being  aware  that  the  women  were  in  ex 
istence. 

When  the  party  entered  the  camp,  the  prisoners  were 
tied  to  different  posts.  The  warriors  then  indulged  in  a 
great  rejoicing.  "Snakyeye"  or  whisky  was  brought  out 
and  drank.  The  warriors  boasted  of  their  deeds  in  battle 
and  divided  the  captives.  Then  they  sprang  up  in  a  wild 
dance,  and  menaced  the  captives  with  their  knives  and 
tomahawks.  One  of  the  Blackfeet  replied  in  contempt- 


42  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

uous  words  to  the  taunts  of  the  Copper-Heads,  which  so 
exasperated  them  that  several  of  the  latter  at  once  rushed 
to  the  posts  and  tomahawked  two  of  the  captives.  The 
third  was  saved  by  a  chief  of  our  tribe,  who  proposed  thai 
he  should  be  burned  instead  of  tomahawked. 

This  proposal  met  with  favor,  and  preparations  were  at 
once  made  for  carrying  it  into  execution.  Wood  was 
brought  and  piled  up  around  the  victim  until  it  ascended 
above  his  knees.  He  was  then  tormented  by  descriptions 
of  the  horrible  sufferings  that  he  was  to  endure,  but  the 
threats  failed  to  shake  his  constancy  in  the  least. 

As  scon  as  all  the  preparations  were  complete,  a  large 
number  of  warriors  and  squaws  encircled  the  victim  and 
commenced  a  wild  dance.  Fire  was  applied  to  the  pile, 
and  in  a  few  moments  the  flames  ascended  around  the 
body  of  the  captive  Blackfoot.  He  commenced  chanting 
a  deathsong,  and  did  not  stop  till  life  was  extinct.  The 
dance  was  kept  up  around  the  stake  until  the  body  was 
consumed,  when  a  yell  was  given  and  the  assemblage 
dispersed  to  their  lodges. 

Next  day  another  council  was  held,  and  it  was  decided 
not  to  go  any  farther  to  the  south,  but  to  return  and  get 
through  the  winter  as  well  as  possible  in  a  territory  where 
we  should  be  out  of  the  Blackfeet  range.  Accordingly  our 
tents  were  struck  and  packed,  the  ponies  loaded,  and  we 
once  more  took  the  northward  trail. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE. 

Marries  the  Chiefs  Daughter— Tattooing— Packing  for  the 
south — Camping  out — Crossing  the  Mountains — Skir 
mish  with  Blackfeet—  Wounded — The  Red  River  Set 
tlements. 

The  fact  that  the  traders  at  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's 
post  had  claimed  me  to  be  of  white  birth  was  communicated 
to  the  principal  chief  after  the  war  excitement  of  the  latter 
was  over,  and  caused  considerable  anxiety  on  his  part. 
Nothing  was  said  to  me  about  it  but  I  could  see  that  the 
old  chief  feared  my  escape  and  that  the  tribe  would  be 
made  to  suffer  some  punishment  at  the  hands  of  the 
whites  for  my  captivity.  1  had  always  considered  myself 
as  an  Indian  captured  from  some  other  tribe  and  could 
not  yet  think  it  possible  that  I  was  one  of  the  pale  faces. 
.  With  the  return  of  Summer  the  tribe  again  sought  the 
Northern  regions  and  I  had  almost  forgotten  the  affair  at 
the  trading  post.  The  old  chief,  Owash-kah-ke-naw,  ap 
peared  to  have  taken  a  great  liking  to  me  and  in  Septem 
ber  of  that  year  (1851)  he  gave  me  his  youngest  daughter, 
Tefronia  (Tame  Deer)  to  be  my  squaw.  She  was  then 
nineteen  and  a  handsome  Indian  woman.  My  own  name 
in  Copper-Head  language  is  Owah-owah-kish-me-wah. 
By  this  squaw  I  have  two  children,  Tefronia,  a  girl  now 
over  five  years  of  age,  and  Tululee,  a  boy  over  two  years  old. 


44  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

After  marrying  his  daughter  I  was  kept  by  the  old  chief 
around  the  village  and  was  not  allowed  to  join  any  ex 
peditions  in  the  lower  country.  Three  years  passed  in 
this  manner  and  my  girl  was  born.  The  tribe  once  more 
moved  farther  south  and  the  old  chief  become  anxious 
about  my  being  claimed  by  the  whites.  One  day  he  told 
me  that  if  I  went  south  with  the  tribe  I  must  be  tattooed, 
so  that  I  could  be  identified  by  them  in  case  I  should  be 
carried  of!  by  the  traders  under  pretence  that  I  was  of 
white  parentage.  I  did  not  consent  to  this  but  was  then 
told  that  there  was  no  choice  left  me  as  it  was  the  will  of 
the  chief  that  it  should  be  done. 

Next  day  I  was  seized  by  two  men  of  the  tribe  and 
made  to  lie  on  my  back  along  a  log.  I  was  next  bound 
down  so  that  1  could  neither  move  my  head,  body,  hands 
or  feet.  My  breast  was  bared  and  one  of  the  Indians  came 
forward  to  do  the  work  of  tattooing. 

First  he  took  a  sharp  knife  and  made  some  light  incisions 
down  my  breast  so  that  small  strips  of  skin  were  cut. 
These  he  peeled  off  and  threw  on  one  side.  My  agony 
was  intense  but  I  did  not  wish  to  be  considered  a  coward 
so  I  held  my  tongue,  though  the  pain  made  me  bite  my 
lips  till  the  blood  came;  other  similar  strips  were  next 
taken  off  at  the  distance  of  about  an  inch,  but  parallel  with 
the  first  marks.  I  now  suffered  tortures  and  was  racked 
with  an  intense  thirst.  The  attendant  Indians  brought  me 
water  and  poured  it  into  my  mouth  and  over  my  head  to 
keep  me  from  fainting. 

Parallel  strips  were  now  cut  at  right  angles  to  the  first 
incisions  and  then  other  strips  at  right  angles  to  the  second 
series  of  cuts.  Some  other  incisions  were  also  made  but 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  45 

by  this  time  I  was  almost  insensible  to  pain.  During 
these  operations  a  smooth  stone  had  been  remaining  in  a 
strong  fire  and  as  the  marks  were  all  cut  the  stone  was 
taken  up  and  applied  to  my  lacerated  breast.  The  pain 
for  the  moment  was  maddening  but  the  effect  was  to  sear 
the  wounds  and  stop  the  bleeding.  1  was  now  released 
from  my  fastenings  and  sought  my  lodge,  with  marks  on 
breast  that  I  still  carry  and  shall  to  my  dying  day. 

After  this  time  1  was  allowed  to  go  with  the  rest  of  the 
tribe  in  the  excursions  to  the  southern  part  of  the  territory 
over  which  we  ranged.  About  two  years  since  I  joined 
the  half  yearly  train  that  left  for  the  Selkirk  settlement  on 
the  Red  River  and  for  St.  Paul's. 

As  I  stated  before,  the  train  starts  twice  a  year —  in  the 
Spring  and  Fall,  laden  with  furs  and  brings  back  sup 
plies  of  various  kinds.  The  journey  occupies  about  six 
"moons"  each  way  and  one  "moon"  is  allowed  for 
stoppage  at  St.  Paul's,  so  that  the  trains  meet  about  half 
way  on  the  journey.  A  large  number  of  Indians  travel  in 
these  trains  so  as  to  fight  their  way  down  in  case  of  resist 
ance  by  hostile  Indians. 

Previous  to  starting  on  the  journey  all  the  furs,  skins 
and  other  articles  intended  to  be  taken  down  together  with 
dried  meats  for  the  journey,  were  packed  in  readiness  to  be 
carried  by  ponies  and  elks,  or  by  the  squaws  in  the  man 
ner  already  described.  When  everything  was  ready  a 
grand  Council  was  held,  at  which  the  old  men  of  the  tribe 
sat  around  the  council  fire,  smoking  their  pipes  in  silence. 
Then  the  principal  chief  arose  and  appointed  one  of  the 
subordinate  chiefs  to  the  command  of  the  party,  giving 
him  in  a  few  words  some  general  instructions  relative  to 


46  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

the  policy  to  be  adopted  in  dealing  with  the  whites  and 
exhorting  the  warriors  attached  to  the  party  to  drive  from 
the  face  of  the  earth  all  who  should  oppose  their  progress. 
Particular  charge  was  given  that  I  should  be  kept  away 
from  the  whites  as  much  as  possible,  and  watch  kept  that 
I  might  not  be  stolen  from  them  by  the  pale  faces, 

The  old  chief  sat  down,  and  the  newly  appointed  chief 
of  the  expedition  rose  and  made  a  speech,  as  did  some 
others  of  the  tribe.  Then  there  were  some  dances,  after 
which  the  Council  broke  up  and  all  retired  to  their  lodges. 

Early  next  morning  the  party  set  out  on  their  journey. 
The  ponies  and  elks  were  loaded  with  packs,  the  squaws 
carried  some  articles  attached  to  the  straps  passed 
across  their  forehead,  and  the  men  rode  or  walked  in  single 
file.  The  journey  was  long  and  tedious,  day  after  day 
passing  with  but  few  incidents  to  change  the  monotony  of 
our  progress.  Hunting  parties  started  off  occasionally  in 
pursuit  of  game  for  the  support  of  the  band,  and  met  at 
appointed  places,  but  the  main  body  kept  advancing 
steadily  in  the  one  direction. 

Only  four  hours  was  allowed  for  sleep,  when  fires  were 
lit  and  we  all  lay  around  in  our  blankets,  with  our  feet  to 
the  fire,  and  heads  outward.  There  are  two  reasons  for 
adopting  this  mode  of  sleeping:  it  keeps  the  feet  warm, 
which  is  very  important,  and  it  allows  more  people  to  sleep 
around  one  fire  than  would  be  possible  in  any  other  posi 
tion.  On  stopping  for  sleep  the  ponies  were  hobbled  in 
such  a  manner  that  they  could  feed  or  sleep,  but  could  not 
run  away.  Sentinels  were  posted  to  prevent  the  camp 
being  surprised  either  by  wild  ani  mals  or  by  hostile  Indians. 

As  soon  as  the  time  was  up  the  signal  was  given    and 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  47 

the  whole  camp  was  speedily  awake  and  ready  for  resum 
ing  the  journey.  A  hasty  meal  was  despatched,  and  then, 
after  determining  the  course  to  be  taken,  the  band  set 
forward.  There  were  no  fixed  hours  for  meals,  and  no 
stoppage  for  that  purpose,  but  each  person  took  a  piece  of 
dried  meat  whenever  he  became  hungry,  and  gnawed  away 
as  he  felt  disposed. 

The  country  through  which  we  passed  changed  from 
dense  forests  to  barren  plains,  and  then  again  to  rolling 
prairies,  high  hills,  and  grassy  valleys.  When  large  streams 
opposed  our  progress  there  was  a  halt  on  the  banks,  and 
preparations  were  made  for  swimming  across.  The  packs 
were  disposed  of  so  as  not  to  be  wetted  and  then  each  an 
imal,  led  by  an  Indian,  was  brought  to  the  stream  and  swam 
across  to  the  other  side.  When  the  animals  and  their 
burdens  had  all  safely  been  got  over,  the  remaining  men 
and  squaws  plunged  in  and  swam  over.  The  very  young 
children  were  carried  on  the  backs  of  the  swimmers  or 
floated  across  on  boards,  which  the  mothers  pushed  before 
them. 

At  the  North  Pass  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  the  band 
crossed  from  the  west  to  the  east  side.  The  crossing  was 
the  work  of  time  and  difficulty,  both  animals  and  Indians 
having  to  creep  slowly  up  the  rugged  heights  of  the  Pass. 
Sometimes  we  were  many  hours  making  half  a  mile  pro 
gress, -and  great  caution  was  requisite  to  prevent  serious 
accidents  among  the  precipices  around  which  we  crept. 
At  times  we  wound  our  way  through  a  deep  gorge,  on 
either  side  of  which  the  enormous  walls  of  rock  towered 
far  overhead.  Then  a  toilsome  ascent  brought  us  on  an 
elevation  from  which  we  looked  down  on  rugged  peaks 


48  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

and  deep  clefts  below.  At  length  the  difficulties  and 
dangers  of  the  pass  were  over,  and  we  emerged  on  the 
rolling  land  to  the  east  of  the  mountains. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  met  with  no  hostile  Indians,  or, 
at  least,  none  that  attempted  to  molest  us.  We  were  now 
in  the  territory  hunted  by  the  Bloods  and  Blackfeet,  and 
were  therefore  not  without  fears  of  an  attack.  On  the 
second  day  after  leaving  the  Pass  I  joined  a  hunting  party 
and  set  out  in  pursuit  of  buffalo.  The  party  consisted  of 
thirty  hunters,  all  well  armed  either  for  the  chase  or  war. 
A  herd  of  bulls  was  discovered  at  a  distance,  and  we  rode 
quietly  towards  them. 

As  we  rose  on  a  ridge  that  commanded  a  wide, view  of 
the  country,  we  became  aware  of  a  party  of  mounted 
Indians  at  no  great  distance  from  us,  in  pursuit  of  the 
same  herd  of  buffalo.  They  appeared  to  have  discovered 
us  at  the  same  time,  and  both  parties  drew  up  to  recon 
noitre.  In  numbers  both  were  nearly  equal,  and  there 
appeared  to  be  little  doubt  that  the  opposing  band  were 
some  of  our  old  enemies,  the  Blackfeet.  A  short  council 
was  held  without  dismounting,  and  there  was  a  question  as 
to  the  policy  of  fighting  them  on  the  spot,  or  of  falling 
back  on  the  main  body  and  keeping  prepared  for  the 
larger  band  of  Blackfeet  that  probably  lay  in  our  course 
towards  the  Selkirk  settlement. 

The  question  was  settled,  without  farther  discussion  on 
our  part,  by  the  appearance  of  the  Blackfeet  galloping 
towards  us.  Our  party  dashed  forward  to  meet  them, 
and  as  the  two  bands  neared  each  other,  rapid  discharges 
of  bullets  and  arrows  were  made  by  both  sides.  I  received 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  49 

a  rifle  ball  in  my  instep,  and  was  thrown  from  my  pony 
by  a  Blackfoot  that  dashed  against  me. 

The  fight  was  desperate,  and  several  scalps  were  taken 
on  both  sides.  A  Blackfoot  warrior  singled  me  out  for 
combat,  and  for  some  time  we  fought  hand  to  hand. 
Severe  blows  were  given  on  both  sides,  and  I  felt  faint 
from  loss  of  blood,  having  received  a  frightful  gash  in  the 
thigh  from  a  tomahawk,  besides  an  ugly  knife  wound  in 
one  knee  and  in  the  calf  of  one  leg.  In  the  end  the  hostile 
party  was  repulsed,  though  with  severe  loss  on  our  side, 
and  we  retreated  to  the  main  body  of  our  party. 

Here  my  wounds  were  found  to  be  of  sufficient  import 
ance  to  require  some  attention.  I  was  lashed  to  a  log  in 
order  to  prevent  my  writhing  during  the  process  of  dress 
ing  the  wounds.  The  gashes  were  then  cleaned  out  and 
washed  with  water.  Some  kinnikenick  bark  was  chewed 
up  and  a  mixed  with  tobacco,  which  was  then  put  into  the 
wound  to  stop  the  bleeding.  The  washing  and  dressing 
was  repeated  until  the  bleeding  had  completely  stopped. 
One  of  the  men  took  a  thin  buckskin  thong  and  sewed  up 
the  wounds  by  piercing  the  skin  and  running  the  thong 
through  it.  Only  two  stitches  were  made  for  each  gash. 
The  pain  of  this  operation  was  intense,  and  was  more  diffi 
cult  to  bear  than  the  original  wounds.  The  marks  of  the 
stitches  are  still  visible  on  my  person. 

Whether  the  defeat  of  the  smaller  party  of  Blackfeet  had 
discouraged  the  larger  band,  or  whether  there  was  no  large 
party  in  the  neighborhood  at  that  time,  I  cannot  tell,  but 
it  was  certain  that  we  were  not  again  troubled  with  them 
during  our  journey.  Occasionally  a  straggling  hunter  or 


50  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

two  would  be  seen,  but  they  always  made  off  before  any 

of  our  warriors  could  reach  them. 

We  had  now  reached  the  hunting  grounds  of  the  Sel- 
kirkers,  or  colonists  of  English,  Scotch,  French  and  half- 
breeds,  who  lived  on  the  territory  granted  to  Lord  Selkirk 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  colony  there.  The  land 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Red  River  is  pleasant  to 
look  at,  and  rich  with  game  of  all  kinds.  Buffalo,  deer, 
and  smaller  game,  range  in  great  numbers  over  the  plains, 
and  the  hunters  and  trappers  of  the  Selkirk  colony  are 
scattered  in  the  season,  in  all  directions  over  this  splendid 
territory.  Soon  after  getting  into  this  country  we  fell  in 
with  some  trappers  who  were  returning  to  the  settlements, 
and  they  traveled  with  our  train  as  far  as  we  went  in  their 
direction. 

In  the  course  of  our  journey  with  them,  they  noticed 
my  appearance  and  spoke  to  me  of  my  resemblance  to 
whites,  even  though  disguised  with  paint  as  I  was.  They 
became  interested  in  me  and  taught  me  several  words  of 
English,  which  I  learned  very  rapidly. 

On  reaching  the  Selkirk  settlements  we  camped  for  a 
few  days  in  order  to  rest  awhile  before  striking  the  Red 
River  trail,  and  to  do  a  little  trading  with  the  settlers. 
Here  the  traders  who  had  been  teaching  me  English  told 
some  of  the  other  whites  about  me,  and  1  was  visited  by 
several  Selkirkers.  After  conversing  with  me  for 
some  time  they  summoned  the  chief,  and  charged  the  tribe 
with  having  stolen  me  when  a  child  from  the  whites.  He 
denied  it,  but  the  Selkirkers  became  more  determined  in 
their  suspicions,  and  demanded  that  1  should  be  given  up 
to  them,  threatening  to  take  me  by  force  if  not  surrendered 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  51 

peaceably.  I  was  appealed  to  as  to  what  my  wishes  were 
on  this  subject.  So  much  had  been  told  me  by  the  traders 
about  my  having  probably  been  stolen  from  my  white 
parents,  that  1  had  become  anxious  to  know  something 
about  the  facts,  and  I  frankly  said  so.  On  this  the  Sel- 
kirkers  became  more  eager  to  have  me  left  with  them,  but 
our  chief  dissuaded  me  from  consenting,  by  representing 
that  I  had  no  clue  to  my  parents,  even  if  it  was  true  that  I 
had  been  stolen  from  the  v/hites,  but  that  if  I  returned  to 
the  tribe,  I  could  undoubtedly  get  part  of  my  history  from 
the  old  chief,  who  would  also  probably  give  me  leave  to  go, 
in  case  1  chose  to  hunt  up  my  family.  With  this  I  was 
content,  and  the  Selkirkers  let  me  go  a'fter  exacting  a  solemn 
promise  from  the  chief  and  principal  warriors  that  I  should 
be  allowed  to  proceed  in  search  of  my  parents  if  I  felt 
disposed  to  do  so. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE. 

Selkirk  People — Selkirk  Trains — Trading  at  St.   Paul — 
Return  to  the  North. 

With  the  dawn  of  day  we  again  set  forward  on  our 
journey,  taking  the  Red  River  trail  towards  St.  Paul.  The 
trip  between  the  Selkirk  settlements  and  St.  Paul  occupies 
from  thirty  to  forty  days,  and  passes  through  the  battle 
ground  of  the  Siouxs  and  Chippewas.  Several  times  we 
came  on  small  parties  of  the  Siouxs,  but  had  no  more  than 
short  skirmishes  with  them,  our  numbers  being  too  formida 
ble  for  them  to  attack  us.  About  two  days  journey  from 
the  Selkirk  settlements  we  came  to  the  settlement  of  Osha- 
wkapee,  inhabited  by  French  and  half  breeds.  From  this 
point  we  passed  over  a  magnificent  rolling  country  inter 
spersed  with  occasional  woods  and  watered  by  several 
streams. 

Whilst  crossing  this  country  we  met  the  Red  River 
settlement  train  returning  from  their  trading  journey  to  St. 
Paul.  The  train  was  composed  of  four  or  five  hundred  ox 
carts  in  single  file,  with  drivers  on  foot,  or  riding  on  the 
wagons,  hunters  and  guards  mounted  on  ponies,  and 
women  and  children  riding  with  camp  fixtures  in  covered 
wagons. 

The  Selkirkers'  wagons  are  of  a  peculiar  kind,  no  iron 
being  used  in  any  part  of  their  construction.  There  is  but 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  53 

one  pair  of  wheels,  having  felloes  about  six  inches  thick. 
There  are  about  fourteen  spokes  to  a  wheel,  and  these 
spokes  are  about  three  feet  long.  The  linch  pins,  axles, 
and  in  fact  everything  about  the  carts,  are  of  wocd,  very 
massive  and  cumbrous.  No  grease  is  used  on  the  axles, 
so  that  an  incessant  groaning  and  creaking  is  kept  up. 
The  body  of  the  cart  is  nothing  but  a  frame  work  similar 
to  the  wood-racks  used  in  the  lower  country.  Somtimes  a 
tilt  covering  is  used  for  the  wagons  that  carry  the  women 
and  children.  Each  cart  is  drawn  by  one  ox  fastened  to 
the  shafts  by  straps  of  raw  hide.  One  man  has  charge  of 
five  wagons,  a  strap  passing  from  the  tail  of  one  wagon 
over  the  horns  of  the  ox  drawing  the  wagon  immediately 
following  it.  When  the  driver  whips  the  first  ox  it  starts 
forward,  and  the  oxen  in  the  squad  of  carts  attached  to 
the  moving  wagon  have  to  start  at  the  same  time. 

The  drivers  of  these  trains  are  mixed  French  Canadians, 
English,  Scotch,  and  half  breeds.  In  most  cases  the 
women  are  Indians,  and  these  travel  with  the  train  to  do 
the  cooking  and  general  work  of  the  camp.  When  they 
camp  for  the  night  they  bring  all  the  wagons  into  a  close 
circle  with  the  shafts  outwards.  Immediately  inside  of 
this  circle  each  ox  is  tied  to  the  cart  to  which  it  belongs, 
and  within  this  inner  circle  of  cattle  the  ponies  are  picketed. 
The  tents  are  then  pitched  within  the  whole,  sentinels  placed, 
and  the  camp  composed  to  sleep. 

Salutations  were  exchanged  with  the  Selkirkers'  train  as 
we  passed,  and  our  journey  was  again  resumed.  At  length 
we  arrived  at  our  village  a  short  distance  from  St.  Anthony, 
and  here  preparations  were  made  for  staying  one  month, 
during  which  the  trading  was  to  de  done' 


54  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

In  this  time  our  furs  and  skins  were  taken  down  to  St. 
Paul,  and,  by  means  of  our  interpreter  were  traded  for 
whiskey,  powder,  rifles,  provisions  of  various  kinds, 
weapons,  and  such  other  articles  as  were  needed  by  us. 
During  these  tradings  I  practiced  myself  in  speaking 
English,  and  could  soon  talk  so  as  to  make  myself  under 
stood.  1  had  some  conversations  with  the  settlers,  and 
became  more  anxious  to  discover  the  facts  in  relation  to 
my  supposed  parentage.  I  determined  that  as  soon  as  I 
went  back  I  would  demand  my  history  from  the  old  chief, 
and  if  1  could  obtain  any  trace  from  him,  I  would  then 
prosecute  the  search  after  my  parents. 

When  the  trading  was  over  and  the  supplies  brought 
back  to  the  camp,  there  was  a  grand  feast  given,  and  the 
camp  became  a  scene  of  drunken  debauchery  for  several 
days.  Whiskey  was  drunk  in  great  quantities,  and  many 
quarrels  took  place  between  the  men.  As  they  had  taken 
the  precaution  of  putting  away  their  weapons  before  the 
drinking  began,  no  one  was  killed  in  the  quarrels. 

At  length  our  time  was  up,  the  Indians  got  over  their 
debauch,  and  every  thing  was  made  ready  for  the  return 
trip.  We  were  soon  on  our  way,  and  marching  with  our 
faces  to  the  North. 

The  journey  to  our  northern  headquarters  had  no  par 
ticular  incident  to  interest  me,  my  mind  being  now  full  of 
the  idea  that  I  had  white  relatives  and  friends,  and  that  the 
savage  life  I  had  led  for  so  many  years  was  not  the  one 
for  which  I  was  born.  I  longed  to  reach  our  village  once 
more,  that  I  might  question  the  old  chief  as  to  my  history. 
At  last  we  reached  the  main  body  of  our  tribe.  I  was 
rejoiced  to  meet  my  Tefronia  and  the  children  once  more, 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  55 

but  at  the  same  time  a  new  feeling  had  entered  my  breast. 
I  waited  impatiently  two  or  three  days  until  the  rejoicings 
caused  by  our  return  should  have  passed  away,  and  then  I 
sought  out  the  venerable  chief,  O-wash-kah-ke-naw,  now 
over  eighty  years  old,  and  begged  him  to  tell  me  truly  the 
secret  of  my  birth. 

For  some  time  the  chief  bade  me  go  back  to  my  lodge 
and  be  content  with  what  I  already  knew,  but,  finding  that 
I  was  resolute  in  discovering  the  facts,  he  told  me  to  await 
a  few  days  in  patience,  and  then  he  would  give  his  decision. 
I  returned  to  my  lodge  in  much  agitation,  for  it  was  evident 
that  the  chief  knew  something  that  had  hitherto  been  con 
cealed  from  me.  I  had  been  so  long  accustomed  to  savage 
life  that  I  remembered  no  other. 

A  council  of  the  leading  chiefs  only,  called  on  the  follow 
ing  day,  which  1  rightly  considered  was  to  consult  on  the 
course  to  be  pursued  in  respect  to  my  demand.  At  last  I 
was  summoned  before  the  great  chief  and  a  few  leading 
warriors,  and  was  instructed  as  to  the  course  allotted  for 
me. 

I  was  then  informed  that  when  a  child  I  had  been  stolen 
from  the  whites  by  a  band  of  Canadian  Indians  who  had 
by  this  course  revenged  themselves  on  the  whites  for  some 
real  or  fancied  wrongs;  that  I  had  passed  through  the  hands 
of  several  tribes  and  had  at  last,  as  I  already  knew,  been 
sold  by  the  Siouxs  to  the  Snakes,  and  remained  with  them 
until  their  union  with  the  Copper  Heads.  The  decision  of 
the  head  men  of  the  tribe  was  that  I  should  join  the  train 
about  to  set  out  for  the  settlements,  and  should  then  pro 
ceed  in  company  with  a  few  picked  warriors,  to  visit  the 
remnants  of  the  tribes  in  whose  possession  I  had  once  been, 


56  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

in  order  to  learn  more  of  my  former  history.  At  the  same 
time  I  was  sworn  to  return  to  the  tribe  within  a  year  after 
I  left  the  train  at  St.  Paul,  and  to  ensure  the  fulfillment  of 
this  condition,  my  wife  and  children  were  to  be  retained 
in  the  old  chief's  family  at  the  headquarters  of  the  tribe. 
To  these  conditions  I  freely  consented,  and  waited  eagerly 
for  the  day  when  I  should  set  out  on  my  journey. 

At  last  the  day  arrived  and  I  took  a  farewell  of  my  wife 
and  children.  The  thought  of  them  checked  a  little  my 
eagerness  to  set  out,  but  at  length  I  left  them,  fully  intend 
ing  to  return  as  soon  as  I  could  discover  something  of  my 
former  history. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

MATTHEW  BRAYTON'S  NARRATIVE. 

Return  to  St.  Paul — Sick  at  Chicago — Sets  out  in  search 
of  his  Parents — Reaches  Cleveland — Gets  his  Story 
Printed — Visits  Warren,  O. — ^Attends  Camp  Meeting — 
Experiences  Religion — Reaches  Sugar  Grove. 

The  snows  of  winter  had  begun  to  fall  when  our  party 
set  out  on  the  route  I  had  so  recently  traveled.  The 
present  company  was  placed  under  command  of  a  son  of 
the  principal  chief,  he  being  also  the  brother  of  my  wife. 
There  is  no  reason  for  again  describing  the  route,  as  we 
traveled  in  the  same  trail  that  we  pursued  with  the  former 
party,  and  this  time  there  were  no  incidents  of  consequence 
to  diversify  the  monotony  of  the  progress.  About  the 
beginning  of  April,  1859,  we  reached  our  camping  ground 
near  St.  Anthony,  and  on  the  10th  of  that  month  I  arrived 
with  a  detachment  of  the  tribe  at  St.  Paul.  We  remained 
here  a  few  days,  making  inquiries  of  the  Siouxs  and 
Chippewas  that  occasionally  came  in  to  trade,  and  from 
them  1  obtained  a  clue  to  farther  discoveries. 

On  the  16th  of  April  1  obtained  leave  from  the  chief  to 
set  out  on  investigations,  promising  faithfully  to  return 
to  St.  Paul  in  July,  when  the  train  would  be  ready  to 
return. 

To  aid  me  in  my  researches  I  was  accompanied  part  of 
the  way  by  the  chief  himself  and  some  members  of  the 


58  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

tribe,  and  our  party  was  furnished  with  three  ponies  and 
five  dogs.  In  pursuance  to  the  information  obtained 
from  the  Sioux  and  Chippewas,  we  proceeded  in  search  of 
a  party  of  Winnebagoes  said  to  be  located  in  Northern 
Wisconsin.  After  traveling  some  days  we  reached  the 
Wisconsin  river,  and  following  it  towards  its  source  came 
on  the  Winnebagoes,  who  were  making  sugar  in  the  woods. 
From  them  I  obtained  the  particulars  of  my  purchase  by 
them  from  the  Paw  Paws,  and  was  directed  to  a  family 
yet  living  in  Michigan  who  could  probably  give  me  some 
farther  information. 

Filled  with  hope  I  started,  in  company  with  my  brother- 
in-law  and  the  other  Indians,  for  Chicago.  We  traveled 
through  the  woods  and  across  the  country,  I  acting  as 
interpreter,  being  now  able  to  speak  English  with  tolerable 
proficiency.  Before  reaching  that  city  I  was  taken  sick, 
and  on  arriving  there  I  fell  into  the  hands  of  some  sympa 
thizing  persons  who  placed  me  under  medical  care.  My 
escort,  finding  that  I  had  become  so  sick  that  I  could 
neither  prosecute  my  researches  for  some  time  nor  return 
with  them,  quitted  me  and  returned  to  St.  Paul,  leaving 
me  only  my  faithful  dog,  Nawah. 

I  was  very  sick  and  do  not  remember  much  for  two  or 
three  weeks,  when  I  found  myself  in  a  hospital,  with  my 
long  hair  cut  off  close  to  my  head  and  the  paint  scrubbed 
from  my  skin.  To  get  it  off  they  had  used  hot  water, 
soap  and  sand,  and  in  the  process  had  transformed  me 
from  an  Indian  to  a  white  man.  I  remained  in  the  hospital 
for  more  than  five  weeks,  and  then  I  was  discharged  as 
cured,  though  still  very  weak. 

On  letting  me  go  they  gave  me  a  suit  of  white  men's 


IHE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  59 

clothing  instead  of  my  Indian  costume,  leaving  me  nothing 
but  my  stone  pipe  and  my  scalping  knife.  Nawah  and  I 
at  once  set  out  on  our  adventures,  and  my  steps  were 
directed  towards  the  place  where  the  Paw  Paw  family  was 
said  to  reside.  I  found  them  after  walking  for  two"  days, 
and  then  was  directed  to  a  small  village  of  Pottawottomies 
in  Branch  county,  Michigan.  I  walked  to  the  place 
described,  sleeping  in  the  woods  at  night  as  had  been  cus 
tomary  with  me,  but  I  soon  found  that  I  could  no  longer 
do  so  with  safety.  With  my  long  hair  cut  off  and  without 
my  blanket  and  furs,  I  was  unprepared  for  camping  out. 
The  result  was  that  I  caught  a  severe  inflammation  in  my 
eyes  that  increased  to  an  extent  threatening  my  sight.  I 
could  no  longer  bear  the  light  and  had  to  walk  with  my 
head  down. 

On  reaching  the  Pottawottomies  I  found  they  consisted 
of  four  families  and  their  chief,  Mr.  Macgwagor.  They 
had  settled  down  to  civilized  life  and  were  living  as 
farmers.  Mr.  Macgwagor  remembered  the  whole  transac 
tion  in  relation  to  my  purchase  from  the  Canadian  Indians, 
he  having  been  present  at  the  transfer.  He  said  the 
Canadian  Indians  had  stated  at  the  time  that  they  had 
taken  me  from  the  south  side  of  Lake  Erie,  and  that,  from 
their  description,  the  party  had  probably  brought  me  from 
Ohio,  as  they  spoke  of  having  crossed  the  Sandusky  river 
during  the  journey  on  which  they  fell  in  with  me. 

On  learning  this  I  set  out  for  Detroit  and  crossed  over 
into  Canada,  but  without  obtaining  much  farther  informa 
tion  among  the  few  semi-civilized  Indians  and  half-breeds 
that  I  met  with  there.  All  I  could  gather  was  that  1  had 


6o  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

probably  been  taken  from  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
Cleveland. 

1  now  retraced  my  steps  to  Detroit  and  proceeded  into 
Ohio,  telling  my  story  as  I  went  and  requesting  informa 
tion.  At  Fremont  I  fell  in  with  a  man  who  listened  to  my 
story  with  attention  and  remarked  that  he  had  formerly 
heard  of  a  family  named  Todd,  who  had  lost  a  little  boy 
from  the  neighborhood  of  Cleveland  a  number  of  years 
ago.  Acting  under  his  suggestions,  on  the  following  day 
I  got  on  the  railroad  train  and  came  to  Cleveland,  where  I 
arrived  in  the  latter  part  of  August. 

I  was  in  Cleveland  about  one  day,  making  inquiries 
relative  to  the  Todd  family  and  telling  my  story,  but 
without  getting  any  information  that  was  of  use.  The 
Todd  family  had  removed  many  years  since,  and  I  could 
not  learn  their  whereabouts.  I  had  begun  to  despair  of 
ever  finding  traces  of  my  parents  when  a  friendly  colored 
man  who  had  met  me  and  learned  my  story,  took  me  to 
the  office  of  the  Cleveland  Daily  Herald  for  the  purpose 
of  telling  my  story  to  the  editors.  We  succeeded  in  finding- 
one  of  them,  Mr.  J.  H.  A.  Bone,  in  the  office,  together  with 
another  gentleman.  I  told  my  story  to  them  and  was 
cross-questioned  by  them  very  closely.  In  the  end  I  was 
directed  to  an  old  citizen  of  the  place  for  the  purpose  of 
making  inquiries,  and  was  told  to  call  again  and  tell  the 
result. 

The  person  to  whom  I  was  directed  was  out  of  town, 
and  I  learned  nothing  farther  that  night.  Several  persons 
took  considerable  interest  in  my  story  and  wished  me  well 
in  my  journeyings.  Next  morning  I  was  on  the  street 
when  1  saw  some  furs  and  other  articles  of  Esquimaux 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  61 

dress  at  the  door  of  a  building,  and  was  told  that  a 
panorama  of  the  Arctic  regions  was  on  exhibition,  and 
that  one  of  the  men  belonging  to  it — Thomas  Hickey — 
had  been  in  the  far  North.  I  went  up  to  see  him,  and  to 
him  and  the  proprietor,  Mr.  La  Rue,  told  my  story. 

I  then  accompanied  Mr.  La  Rue  to  the  office  of  the 
Herald,  and  there  I  again  met  Mr.  Bone,  who  made  me 
repeat  my  story  and  then  printed  it  with  a  request  that  any 
person  possessing  information  of  probable  use  to  the 
"Indian  Captive"  would  at  once  furnish  it. 

The  interest  taken  in  my  story  by  the  editors  of  the 
Cleveland  Herald  has  been  the  means  of  my  return  to  my 
relatives. 

I  remained  in  Cleveland  several  days  and  my  story 
excited  much  interest.  Some  persons  furnished  me  with 
portions  of  clothing  of  which  I  stood  in  need,  and  I  was 
furnished  with  food  and  sleeping  room  at  one  of  the 
hotels.  The  people  at  the  house  were  surprised  at  my 
refusal  to  sleep  in  a  bed  and  to  eat  cooked  meat  or  any 
thing  that  had  salt  in  it,  but  I  could  not  endure  the  method 
of  eating  or  sleeping  used  by  civilized  white  people. 

In  a  few  days  I  learned  that  some  persons  in  Warren,  O., 
could  probably  give  me  some  information,  and  thither  I 
went,  the  Cleveland  and  Mahoning  Railroad  Company 
taking  me  without  my  paying  fare.  On  arriving  there  I 
found  that  the  people  to  whom  I  was  directed  had  gone 
out  of  town  to  attend  a  camp  meeting  in  Mahoning 
county.  Some  persons  going  to  the  meeting  invited  me  to 
accompany  them,  and  in  their  company  I  arrived  at  the 
camp  meeting. 

A  short  time  sufficed  to  convince  me  that  I  had  got  on 


62  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

the  wrong  track  and  that  I  was  not  the  missing  son  of 
Joseph  Todd.  Great  interest  was,  however,  occasioned 
by  my  story,  and  many  questions  were  put  to  me.  I 
showed  the  Presiding  Elder  papers  given  me  in  proof  of 
my  belonging  to  the  Indian  tribe  and  related  my  adven 
tures.  Finally  I  showed  them  my  dog,  scalping  knife  and 
pipe.  The  Presiding  Elder,  Mr.  Anson  Brazee,  was  so 
much  interested  in  my  story  that  he  got  me  to  repeat  it  to 
the  whole  meeting.  I  remained  with  these  people  through 
out  the  meeting,  and  before  it  broke  up  I  became 
thoroughly  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  religion 
and  joined  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren.  In  token 
that  I  had  forever  abandoned  the  bloody  practices  of 
heathenism  I  broke  my  scalping  knife  in  two,  giving  the 
handle  and  part  of  the  blade  fo  Elder  Brazee,  and  the  other 
part  of  the  blade  to  a  circuit  preacher,  the  Rev.  William 
Mclntyre.  When  the  camp  broke  up  I  accompanied  the 
elder  and  some  of  the  ministers  to  a  conference  in  Stark 
county,  and  from  thence  went  to  Williamsfield,  Ashtabula 
county,  where  I  stayed  with  some  farmers  belonging;  to  the 
church  of  the  United  Brethren. 

After  staying  with  these  good  people  about  a  fortnight  I 
went  to  Monroe,  Ashtabula  county,  in  search  of  some 
information  that  I  expected  to  get  there,  but  failed  to 
obtain  anything  of  use.  I  then  accepted  the  invitation  of 
Elder  Brazee  and  went  to  his  house  in  Pierpont,  Ashtabula 
county,  where  I  stayed  a  short  time.  From  there  I  went 
to  Conneautville,  thence  to  Clark's  Corners  and  to  Con- 
norsville.  From  that  place  the  minister  sent  a  letter  to 
Cleveland  stating  that  I  had  gone  into  Pennsylvania,  and 
giving  directions  where  I  probably  could  be  heard  of. 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  63 

I  continued  to  wander  trom  place  to  place,  wherever  the 
faintest  hope  existed  of  my  getting  any  information,  and 
in  this  way  I  visited  Erie,  Waterford,  Wattsburgh,  and 
finally  reached  Warren,  Pa.,  where  the  Rev.  William  Mc- 
Intyre  was  stationed.  I  remained  with  him  a  short  time 
and  then  retraced  my  steps  to  Ashtabula  county,  after 
which  1  again  returned  to  Mr.  Mclntyre's  and  from  thence 
went  to  Columbus,  Pa. 

My  hopes  of  finding  my  relatives  had  now  almost  died 
out.  Nearly  six  months  had  passed,  but  I  seemed  no 
nearer  the  object  of  my  search  than  I  was  when  I  left  St. 
Paul.  Wearied  out  with  fruitless  efforts,  1  had  resolved 
to  make  one  more  attempt,  and  if  that  failed,  to  abandon 
the  search  for  ever  and  return  to  my  tribe  on  the  approach 
of  spring.  My  eyes  remained  very  bad,  and  I  therefore 
labored  under  great  disadvantages,  having  to  be  careful 
lest  the  inflammation  should  increase  and  destroy  my  sight. 
1  had  gone  to  school  for  a  few  days  in  Pennsylvania,  but 
the  state  of  my  eyes  compelled  me  reluctantly  to  abandon 
the  idea  for  the  present,  at  least. 

From  Columbus  I  went  to  Sugar  Grove,  Warren  county, 
Pa.,  close  to  the  New  York  State  line.  My  intention  was 
to  remain  there  a  day  or  two,  and  then  set  out  for  the 
Cattaraugus  Indian  Reservation  where  I  intended  making 
my  last  effort  at  obtaining  information.  If  I  failed  there  1 
meant  either  to  return  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mclntyre's  residence 
and  attend  school  for  the  winter,  or  go  into  Canada  and 
remain  with  the  Indians  until  spring,  when  it  would  be 
time  to  reurn  to  St.  Paul.  On  the  18th  or  November  I 
was  at  Sugar  Grove  when  Mr.  W.  T.  Smith,  a  farmer 
living  in  New  York  State,  just  across  the  line,  dtove  up 


64  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

with  his  wagon  early  in  the  morning  to  take  me  to  his 
house,  where  I  was  to  stay  a  few  days  previous  to  leaving 
to  the  Cattaraugus  Reservation.  I  little  dreamed,  when  I 
arrived  at  the  house,  that  the  end  of  my  journeying  was 
so  near,  and  that  the  object  of  the  search  which  I  had 
almost  abandoned  in  despair  was  already  within  a  few 
hours  of  attainment. 


CHAPTER  X. 

FflUND  AT  LAST. 

The  narration  of  the  circumstances  which   led  to   the 
Iiscovery  of  Matthew  Brayton  by  his  relatives  requires  us 
o  go  back  a  little  from  the  point  to  which  his  account  has 
brought  the  reader.    The  intervening  years  between  the 
loss  of  Matthew  Brayton  by  his  relatives  and  the  present 
time  have  caused  many  changes  in  the  neighborhood  once 
so  excited  in  consequence  of  that  loss.    The  red  men  clung 
for  many  years  to  their  last  foothold  in  Ohio.     Four  years 
after  the  loss  of  the  boy,  the  Delawares  left  their  village 
below  Upper  Sandusky,  and  set  out  for  their  new  homes 
farther  west.    Two  years  afterwards  the    Senecas    extin 
guished  their  council  fires  and  sought  a  resting  place  nearer 
the  Rocky  Mountains.     But  the  Wyandots  held  tenaciously 
their  homes,  and  eighteen  years  passed  away  before  they 
finally  consented  to  abandon  Ohio  to  the  exclusive  occu 
pation  of  the  white  race. 
Fine  farms  now  cover  the  site  of  the  waste  land   and 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  65 

woods  over  and  through  which  the  weary  hunt  for  the 
missing  boy  was  conducted  day  after  day.  Towns  and 
villages  have  sprung  up  where  humble  log  cabins  here  and 
there  stood  in  the  incipient  clearing,  and  the  huts  of  the 
red  skins  have  passed  away  forever. 

The  sturdy  farmer,  Elijah  Bray  ton,  who  once  returned  to 
his  cabin  from  the  weary  journey  to  Chillicothe  after 
millstones,  and  was  met  by  news  that  made  the  blood  for 
sake  his  parental  heart  in  a  sudden  rush,  had  passed  by 
some  years  the  allotted  period  of  man's  life,  and  is  fast 
progressing  towards  his  fourscore  years.  William,  the  boy 
of  sixteen  who  had  set  out  with  his  little  brother  on  that 
search  for  stray  cattle,  but  had  returned  without  him,  has 
reached  the  meridian  of  life,  and  sees  around  him  a  young 
family  springing  up.  Long  since,  the  paternal  cabin  near 
the  Tymochte  Creek  has  disappeared,  and  two  or  three 
miles  away  from  it,  somewhere  in  the  direction  where  the 
two  brothers  had  separated  thirty-four  years  ago,  a  fine 
brick  house  has  become  the  dwelling  of  the  oldest  son  of 
Elijah  Brayton.  Up  at  Springville,  some  five  or  six  miles 
farther  to  the  northwest,  and  at  no  great  distance  from 
the  trail  on  which  the  young  boy  was  borne  off  by  the 
thieving  Canadian  Indians,  lives  another  brother,  Peter,  and 
one  of  the  married  sisters.  Here  also  lives  the  patriarch 
himself.  There  are  other  sisters  who  mourned  when  their 
brother  was  lost,  and  they  too  are  married.  A  son  and 
daughter  born  to  the  patriarch  of  the  family  after  the  loss 
of  Matthew,  have  long  since  died,  and  another  son,  Asa, 
younger  yet,  pursues  the  practice  of  medicine  in  the  adjoin 
ing  town  of  Carey. 

The  publication  of  the  "Indian  Captive's"  narrative  in 


66  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

the  Cleveland  Herald  was  the  means  of  creating  consider 
able  interest  in  his  fortunes.  The  story  was  extensively 
copied,  and  several  letters  were  received  by  the  editors  of 
that  paper  from  people  in  different  sections  of  the  country 
who  had  lost  children  many  years  ago;  it  was  supposed  by 
means  of  Indians.  None  of  these  letters  afforded  any  clue 
by  which  the  Indian  Captive  could  trace  out  his  family 

A  weekly  paper  containing  the  story,  copied  from  the 
Cleveland  Herald,  was  sent  by  a  friend  to  the  Braytons 

and  .J?!s  fi,rst  &ave  them  an  idea  that  there  might  be  a 
possibility  of  recovering  the  missing  member  of  the  family. 
On  the  26th  of  September,  one  month  after  the  first  pub 
lication  of  the  narrative,  Dr.  Asa  Brayton  wrote  to  the 

iitors  of  the  Herald,  stating  the  manner  in  which  he  had 
met  with  the  article,  and  giving  some  particulars  of  the 
method  in  which  his  brother  Matthew  had  been  lost.  About 
a  week  afterwards  a  cousin  of  the  Doctor  called  at  the 
office  of  that  paper,  and  made  inquiries  respecting  the 
Indian  Captive.  He  was  followed  in  a  few  days  by  Mr 
Peter  Brayton,  one  of  the  brothers  of  the  missing  Matthew' 
who  went  to  Warren,  O.,  in  search  of  the  "Captive,"  but 
lost  trace  of  him  there  and  returned  discouraged 

The  interest  in  the  subject  did  not  abate,  and  from  time 
to  time  the  Herald  gave  some  intelligence  regarding  the 
wanderings  of  the  "Indian  Captive."  The  more  the  Bray- 
tons  considered  the  matter  the  stronger  was  their  desire  to 
satisfy  themselves,  and  on  the  tenth  of  November,  William 
Brayton,  the  eldest  brother,  who  had  accompanied  Matthew 
on  the  morning  of  the  day  when  the  latter  was  lost,  set 

t  with  the  determination  of  not  returning  until  he  could 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  67 

satisfy  himself  as  to  whether  the  "Indian  Captive"  was 
identical  with  his  lost  brother,  or  not. 

Previous  to  setting  out,  William  was  charged  by  his 
father  to  examine  the  man  for  two  marks  by  which  his 
identity  could  probably  be  established.  One  was  a  scar  on 
the  top  of  the  head,  caused  by  a  razor  cut  which  the  father 
had  made  in  lancing  a  boil,  and  the  other  was  a  scar  on 
the  great  toe  of  the  right  foot,  resulting  from  the  cut  of  an 
axe. 

William  Brayton  came  to  Cleveland  and  learned  that 
the  person  of  whom  he  was  in  search  had  been  heard  of 
in  Northern  Pennsylvania,  and  was  directed  where  to  go. 
At  the  place  pointed  out  he  struck  the  trail  of  the  "Cap 
tive,"  and  traced  him  to  Sugar  Grove.  Here  he  learned 
that  the  man  had  crossed  the  State  line  into  New  York. 
The  chase  was  too  near  at  an  end  to  allow  any  delay,  so 
Mr.  Brayton  took  along  a  doctor  as  witness  of  the  inter 
view,  and  set  out  for  the  house  of  Mr.  Smith,  where  it  was 
said  that  the  "Captive"  had  gone. 

It  was  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  the  two  ar 
rived  at  the  house,  and  the  daylight  was  fast  fading  into 
darkness.  They  knocked  at  the" door,  and,  in  response  to 
an  invitation  from  within,  entered  the  house.  A  man, 
with  his  boots  off,  was  drying  .his  feet  at  the  fire.  Mr. 
Brayton  stepped  forward  eagerly  and  enquired  where  the 
"folks"  were,  and  was  told  that  they  were  out  doing  some 
work  in  the  yard.  Mr.  Brayton  said  he  wanted  them 
called  in,  and  wished  a  light  struck  at  once,  following  up 
the  request  with  the  question  whether  the  man  to  whom 
he  spoke  was  the  "Indian  Captive."  On  being  told  in  the 
affirmative  he  became  greatly  agitated  and  proceeded  at 


MATTHEW  BRAYTON 
once  to  get  a  light     The  "Captive"  hastily  drew  on   his 

Son  fro  th  h'f  d°g  t0  hh  Mt'  and  drew  back  with  sus 
picion  frorn  the  strangers.  As  soon  as  the  light  was  ob- 

hen  both  hBrayt?vbade  fhe  '<Captive"  bare  h's  head  and 
wffcfl*  f.  H  ^S  ™mpanion  examin«l  the  spot  where 
his  father  had  told  them  to  search  for  the  scar  The 
emotion  of  William  Brayton  may  be  imagined  when  the 

charaTrP  nmlT  TH^  *?  !**&*•  unmistakable  in  It 
character  an  situated  precisely  where  he  had  been  told  to 

HP  h  *  IF  ua"  ag,!tated  voice  he  bade  the  man  take 
the  boot  from  his  right  foot,  which  was  done,  and  there 

a  scar  visibl«.  Just  where  it  had  been  described  to 


The  emotions  of  William  Brayton  may  be  imagined 
but  cannot  be  portrayed.  The  brother  fo/  whose  fiss  he 
had  always  reproached  himself  was  at  length  found 
through  his  means,  and  the  sorrows  of  thirty-four  years 

Wrea 


theronm 

Thon  h  t  ^Th°le  frame  convu!sed  with  agitation. 
Then  he  turned  to  the  cause  of  all  this  emotion,  who  sat 
perfectly  astonished  at  the  proceedings,  and  the  "Indian 
Captive"  was  declared  to  be  the  long  lost  Matthew  Bray- 

A  letter  was  at  once  sent  home,  containing  the  glad 
news  ofthe  discovery,  and,  as  soon  as  possible  the  re 
united  brothers  set  out  in  the  same  direction 

and  IfrE  Statl°"  °!L  the  road  home'  crowds  ^thered, 
wr?  l%?  ?'A  ^  *ey  were  exPected  to  st°P'  hundreds 
were  collected-old  men  who  had  searched  for  the  lost 
boy—  aged  mothers  who  had  held  him  in  their  arms- 
young  men  who  had  heard  the  story  narrated  by  their 


THE  INDIAN  CAPTIVE  69 

parents.  But  the  couple  stopped  five  miles  north  of 
Carey,  at  Adrian  Station,  and  at  once  started  for  William 
Brayton's  house. 

Here  the  family  were  gathered.  The  old  man,  seventy- 
three  years  of  age,  but  still  hale  and  vigorous — the  broth 
ers  and  sisters.  When  the  eldest  brother  entered  with  his 
charge  the  intense  feeling  that  prevailed  the  hearts  of  all  in 
the  room  can  scarcely  be  imagined — cannot  be  described. 
The  aged  father  arose,  placed  his  trembling  hand  on  the 
head  of  the  stranger,  and  searched  for  the  scar,  which  he 
could  scarcely  distinguish  through  the  mist  that  filled  his 
eyes.  Then  he  knelt  to  examine  the  foot.  For  a  moment 
every  breath  was  hushed,  and  the  hearts  of  the  other 
relatives  almost  ceased  to  beat.  Then  the  old  man  tottered 
to  his  feet,  and  with  a  gush  of  tears — the  stream  of  affec 
tion  that  had  been  pent  up  for  the  third  of  a  century- 
fell  on  the  neck  of  his  son — Matthew  Brayton !  It  is  use 
less  to  attempt  a  description  of  the  scene  that  followed. 
The  father  that  had  so  long  secretly  mourned  for  his  child, 
the  household  pet;  the  brother  who  never  forgot  that  it 
was  from  his  company  that  the  little  boy  had  passed  away 
to  a  mysterious  fate;  the  other  brother  who  had  been  his 
playmate;  the  sisters  who  had  fondled  their  little  brother 
in  infancy— all  were  gathered  to  share  in  that  happy  meet 
ing.  There  was  one  absent  whose  presence  was  needed  to 
make  the  cup  of  joy  full  to  overflowing,  but  her  motherly 
heart  might  perhaps  even  then  be  rejoicing  in  Heaven  for 
the  happiness  on  earth. 

The  news  of  the  return  spread  like  wildfire.  The  return 
was  on  Thursday  the  17th  of  November.  For  days 
afterwards  the  house  was  besieged  by  anxious  people  ea^er 


70  MATTHEW  BRAYTON 

to  see  the  "boy"  so  long  lost,  and  so  strangely  found.  Old 
men  who  had  shared  with  zeal  in  that  weary  and  hopeless 
search  thirty-four  years  ago,  came  up,  and  all  who  had 
known  him  as  a  little  boy,  acknowledged  the  identity 

At  present  Matthew  Brayton,  the  hero  of  these  strange 
adventures,  is  residing  with  his  father  and  brothers  and 
has  become  somewhat  reconciled  to  civilized  life  He  has 
abandoned  his  design  of  returning  to  the  Indians,  and  is 
endeavoring  to  fit  himself  for  the  different  lot  now  assigned 
He  has  attended  school  as  frequently  as  the  state  of 
his  eyes  permitted,  and  can  now  read  a  little  as  well  as 
converse  very  readily  in  the  English  language.  After  his 
thirty-four  years  of  wanderings  and  hardships  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  he  will  now  be  content  to  remain  among  his 
family  and  partake  to  the  full  of  the  blessings  of  civiliza 
tion. 

The  foregoing  is  a  reproduction  of  a  book  published  in 
1860,  giving  the  strange  history  of  this  Indian  Captive. 
After  returning  to  civilization,  he  resided  for  a  few  months 
in  Carey  and  Fostoria,  and  made  several  lecture  tours  riv 
ing  an  account  of  his  adventures  and  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  Indians. 

This  mode  of  life  was  too  much  of  a  change  from  the 
wild  life  he  had  been  living,  and  when  the  war  of  the 
Rebellion  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  an  Indiana  Regiment 
and  went  to  the  South  to  fight  for  his  country.  He  proved 
a  brave  soldier,  but  while  in  the  service  he  was  taken 
dangerously  ill,  and  after  a  short  sickness  died  at  Pitts 
burgh  Landing  in  1862. 


